Optical payment transceiver and system using the same

ABSTRACT

An optical payment transceiver and an optical settlement system using the same uses a personal portable terminal incorporated with an optical transceiver as a card substitute payment unit for settlement. Here, card information is incorporated in a personal portable terminal incorporated with an optical transceiver such as a portable phone or a PDA and the optical transceiver is connected to a card inquiry machine to thereby optically transmit and receive card information. The card inquiry machine recognizes the received card information in the same manner as that of the card reader reading a magnetic card, and transmits the card information to a VAN company server or a card company server, to then request for an approval and settle transactions. The present invention is applied to most fields where financial transactions are performed as in a general commerce, a toll gate fee or tunnel passage fee collection system, a subway or bus fare levying system, a gas station, a department store, a drive-thru ordering system, a vending machine, and a fee payment system of kiosks. Also, the present invention can be applied to an entrance/exit security system requiring personal identification. Thus, the present invention can use a portable terminal as a payment unit without carrying a cash or cards, to thereby provide an effect of performing a safer and more reliable credit transaction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical payment transceiverand an optical settlement system using the same, and more particularly,to a system for settling an expense of various transactions through aportable terminal in which payment information is contained in theportable terminal to which an optical payment transceiver is attached.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Recently, cards convenient to use and handy to carry are widelybeing used compared with cash. The cards are classified into a creditcard, a cash card, a direct payment card, an advance payment card, atraffic card and so on according to a settlement method. For example,cards are frequently used to settle accounts for purchase of products ingeneral shops or department stores. Also, cards are used to pay forfilling gas in gas stations or having food in restaurants. Recently,cards are being used for traffic fare in taxis, subways or buses. Inaddition, cards are being used for electronic commerce transactions orautomatic transfer machines (ATMs)/CDs. As such, card affiliated storescontinue to increase and card settlement items become diverse. However,cards are not still sufficiently applied to toll gates, tunnel passage,vending machines, and self-service kiosks.

[0003]FIG. 1 illustrates a general credit card settlement system, whichshows the case of paying for an article purchased in a shop.

[0004] In FIG. 1, a purchaser gives his or her own credit card 11 to aseller. The credit card 11 is a magnetic card in which an inherentnumber and a user name are engraved. The seller inserts the credit cardinto a magnetic card reader in a credit card inquiry machine 12, so thatcredit card information is recognized via the magnetic card reader.Then, the credit card inquiry machine 12 transmits the recognized creditcard information to a VAN (Value-Added Network) company server 13, tothereby send an approval request. The credit card inquiry machine 12 andthe VAN company server 13 are connected through a dedicated line. TheVAN company server 13 applies for an approval to a corresponding cardcompany server 14 according to the received approval request. The cardcompany server 14 having received the approval application from the VANcompany server 13 confirms whether the corresponding credit card isblack-listed, how is the credit standing of the credit card holder, howis the credit limit of the credit card, and so on, and then transmits anapproval result to the VAN company server 13. The VAN company server 13having received the approval result from the card company server 14notifies the approval result to the credit card inquiry machine 12 inthe store having received the initial approval application. The sellerin the store confirms the approval result and then notifies thepurchaser of the confirmed approval result. In the case that the creditcard proves normal according to the approval result, the seller givesthe purchaser a sales check and then receives a signature from thepurchaser. Accordingly, a settlement of payment using such a credit cardis completed.

[0005]FIG. 2 illustrates a credit card settlement system in a generalelectronic commerce, which includes a cyber shopping mall system 23providing products or services, and a customer terminal 22 whichaccesses the shopping mall system 23 via the Internet in order topurchase articles or services. The credit card settlement system alsoincludes a payment gateway company server 24, and a VAN company server25 and a card company server 26, which are involved in payment forproducts such as the articles or services.

[0006] In FIG. 2, a customer accesses the cyber shopping mall system 23with a computer, that is, the Internet-accessible terminal 22, in orderto perform a shopping. If the customer finds out an article desired tobe purchased, he or she transmits a purchase intention to the shoppingmall system 23. The customer inputs information of the possessed creditcard 21, that is, the customer name, the card number, the secret number,the valid date, etc., on a screen provided by the shopping mall system23. The shopping mall system 23 transmits the card information providedby the customer to the payment gateway company server 24. The paymentgateway company server 24 requests for an approval for the transmittedcard information to the card company server 26 or the VAN company server25, and then confirms an approval result, and transmits the approvalresult to the shopping mall system 23 where transactions took place. Ifthe shopping mall system 23 is notified that a normal settlementprocessing has been made from the payment gateway company server 24, thearticle purchased by the corresponding customer is delivered to thecustomer to complete the transaction.

[0007] Meanwhile, an electronic money is used as a new payment means inaddition to cashes or cards. The electronic money may be classified intoa network-type electronic money, an IC card-type electronic money and apetty sum electronic money using a phone number. The network-typeelectronic money adopts a method of storing a substantial monetary valuein a particular database on a network and transmits a requested value ata needed time on an on-line, which cannot be used on an off-line. The ICcard-type electronic money is represented by a Mondex card as anexample. The petty sum electronic money using a phone number adopts amethod of inputting a phone number such as a portable phone numberinstead of payment information such as credit card information whengoods or services are purchased on the Internet after registration withrespect to corresponding electronic money dealing stores, to therebyallow a phone number inputter to purchase his or her desired goods orservices, and charging the amount summed in a following month bill forphone charges to him or her.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] By the way, the above-described credit card holder should alwayspossess it in order to pay for charges. If the credit card is lost, itmay be unduly used. Also, personal credit information of a credit cardholder can be unduly exposed through use of the credit card. Also, inthe case that a credit card is handed over to a seller for inquiry ofthe credit card, the credit card may be easily illegally copied. Forthis reason, a dispute between a card holder and a card company isfrequently raised. However, all responsibilities are taken to a cardholder.

[0009] Also, in the case that a credit card is a magnetic card, such acredit card can be easily read-out by an unauthorized person and damagedby a careless use and treatment. Also, since a valid data of use isdetermined, a new credit card should be re-issued for even a memberhaving a normal credit standing every three or five years, and deliveredagain. Accordingly, a business cost increases. Also, a card is usuallykept in custody in a wallet. Thus, in the case that a card is lost, itis difficult to recognize that the card has been lost until it is timewhen the card is used again or it is found that the wallet has beenlost. Thus, an illegal use may be aggravated due to a theft or loss. Inaddition, since an existing magnetic card can contain only a smallamount of information, it cannot be applied to a variety of applicationfields. Further, since card issuance responsibilities of each card suchas entrance cards, security cards, service cards and so on are diverse,persons who wish to receive diverse services provided from the variouscard issuing authorities should possess a plurality of cards.

[0010] Meanwhile, since the number of possessed cards increases and useof cards is frequently made, loss or theft of cards frequently occurs,which increases a burden to suspend dealings on a credit card. Also, ifa card holder is registered as a poor credit standing due to a unpaidcard dealing amount, it is necessary to suspend such a card dealing. Forsuspending such a card dealing, a card company server keeps black list(B/L) information with respect to poor credit standing cards and checkswhether a card dealing should be suspended if a card dealing approvalrequest is received from a card dealing store. Otherwise, a card readerinstalled in a bus or subway entrance gate downloads B/L information bywire from a card company server, and compares input card informationwith the stored B/L information during using of cards in a bus orsubway, to thereby check whether such a card is black-listed.

[0011] However, the above card dealing suspension methods have thedifficulty that a massive amount of information should be stored in eachcard company server or card reader, which causes an operation of systemsdifficult. Further, as an amount of information to be processedincreases, it becomes longer to check a B/L card and thus a reactiontime of the card company server or card reader becomes later, which maycause complaint or dissatisfaction due to inferior services.

[0012] To solve the above problems, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a card issuance system for enabling a cardapplicant to use a portable device as a substituted card, in which cardinformation is input into the portable device such as a wirelesscommunications terminal including a cellular phone, a PCS, a portablemobile phone, a PDA, an IMT-2000 device and so on, instead of a magneticcard.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a newsettlement system for optically transmitting and receiving cardinformation for paying for an expense and settling the expense payment.

[0014] It is still another object of the present invention to provide asettlement system in which an optical transmitter containing cardinformation is rent and all purchased amount bills can be settled.

[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide acard information reception combining apparatus for use in a credit cardinquiry machine, which receives optically transmitted card informationto thereby perform a successful transaction, in which an existing creditcard inquiry machine is used as it is without purchasing a credit cardinquiry machine attached with an optical receiver receiving opticallytransmitted card information.

[0016] It is a still yet another object of the present invention toprovide an authentication system enhancing a reliability with respect touser authentication in the above settlement system.

[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide aportable device which has a larger information storage capability tothereby provide a variety of services which are not limited in paymentof banking or financing transactions.

[0018] It is a still further object of the present invention to providea portable device including information on various cards therebyenhancing user conveniences in which a user possesses a single portabledevice instead of a plurality of cards.

[0019] It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide anoptical payment transceiver which is manufactured easily to hand,contains payment information, and transmits the stored paymentinformation by infra-red communications upon manipulation of userbuttons, to thereby settle the payment securely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above objects and other advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing the preferred embodimentsthereof in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

[0021]FIG. 1 illustrates a general credit card settlement system;

[0022]FIG. 2 illustrates a credit card settlement system in a generalelectronic commerce;

[0023]FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an optical settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 4 illustrates a card issuance system according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 5 is a flowchart view for explaining a card issuanceoperation of the FIG. 4 system;

[0026]FIG. 6 illustrates a card issuance system according to, anotherembodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 7 is a flowchart view for explaining a card issuanceoperation of the FIG. 6 system;

[0028]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an optical payment unitaccording to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 9 shows an external appearance of an optical payment unitfabricated in a portable phone shape;

[0030]FIG. 10A is a block diagram showing an optical payment unitfabricated in a key chain shape;

[0031]FIG. 10B shows an external appearance of the FIG. 10A opticalpayment unit fabricated in a key chain shape;

[0032]FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a portable terminal batterypack including an optical transceiver according to the presentinvention;

[0033]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an optical transmission circuitincluded in a battery pack;

[0034]FIG. 13A is a front-end bottom view showing a connection statebetween an optical transceiver plug device and a portable phone device;

[0035]FIG. 13B is a rear view showing a connection state between anoptical transceiver plug device and a portable phone device;

[0036]FIG. 14 is a detailed configuration view showing an opticaltransceiver plug device;

[0037]FIG. 15A is a block diagram showing an optical receiverincorporated credit card inquiry machine according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0038]FIG. 15B shows an external appearance of the FIG. 15A opticalreceiver incorporated credit card inquiry machine;

[0039]FIG. 16A is a block diagram showing an optical receiver externallyinstalled credit card inquiry machine according to another embodiment ofthe present invention, in which the optical receiver is connected to thecredit card inquiry machine by cable;

[0040]FIG. 16B shows a connection state of the FIG. 16A optical receiverexternally installed credit card inquiry machine;

[0041]FIG. 17A is a block diagram showing an adapter in a credit cardinquiry machine according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0042]FIG. 17B is a block diagram showing a magnetic interface card ofFIG. 17A;

[0043]FIG. 17C is a connection state between the adapter of FIG. 17A andthe credit card inquiry machine;

[0044]FIG. 18A is a block diagram showing an adapter having a cardreader in a credit card inquiry machine according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention;

[0045]FIG. 18B is a connection state between the adapter of FIG. 18A andthe credit card inquiry machine;

[0046]FIG. 19A is a block diagram showing a mobile optical relayeraccording to the present invention;

[0047]FIG. 19B is a block diagram showing a mobile optical relayer basedevice according to the present invention;

[0048]FIG. 19C is a connection state of the mobile optical relayer ofFIG. 19A;

[0049]FIG. 19D is a connection state of the mobile optical relayer basedevice of FIG. 19B;

[0050]FIGS. 20A through 20D show a clip-type optical relayer,respectively;

[0051]FIG. 21 illustrates an adapter-type optical relay base device;

[0052]FIG. 22 is a block diagram for explaining a card informationencryption method according to the present invention;

[0053]FIGS. 23A through 23C show a structure of storing a plurality ofkinds of payment information, respectively;

[0054]FIG. 24 illustrates a communications procedure between the opticalpayment transceivers;

[0055]FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate a communications protocol applied to asettlement method using an optical payment according to the presentinvention, respectively;

[0056]FIG. 27 is a flowchart view for explaining a security enhancementmethod in a settlement system using a card information containedportable terminal according to the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 28 is a configuration diagram showing a commerce system usingan optical payment transceiver according to the present invention;

[0058]FIG. 29 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation withrespect to an optical settlement in a general commerce system of FIG.28;

[0059]FIG. 30 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation in thecase that the settlement system of FIG. 28 is applied to a countercalculation-type restaurant;

[0060]FIG. 31 is a conceptual view of a settlement system adopting anoptical payment using a phone number as an ID (IDentification);

[0061]FIG. 32 is a view showing a data flow of a settlement systemadopting an optical payment using a phone number as an ID(IDentification);

[0062]FIG. 33 is a configuration view showing a toll gate fee settlementsystem adopting an optical payment settlement system according to thepresent invention;

[0063]FIG. 34 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation withrespect to settlement of a toll gate fee of a vehicle which passes anentrance gate in a toll gate;

[0064]FIG. 35 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation withrespect to settlement of a toll gate fee of a vehicle which passes anexit gate in a toll gate;

[0065]FIG. 36 is a configuration view showing a drive-thru order systemadopting an optical payment settlement system according to the presentinvention;

[0066]FIG. 37 is a configuration view showing an optical paymentsettlement system in the FIG. 36 system;

[0067]FIG. 38 shows a display state with respect to an order detailsdisplay board in the FIG. 36 system;

[0068]FIG. 39 is a flowchart view for explaining an order/settlementoperation in the FIG. 36 system;

[0069]FIG. 40 is a configuration view showing a gas station feecollection system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0070]FIG. 41 is a flowchart view for explaining a settlement operationin the FIG. 40 gas station fee collection system;

[0071]FIG. 42 is a configuration view showing a department storesettlement system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the-present invention;

[0072]FIG. 43 is a configuration view showing an unmanned automaticvending system adopting an optical payment settlement system accordingto the present invention;

[0073]FIG. 44 is a detailed block diagram showing the automatic vendingsystem of FIG. 43;

[0074]FIG. 45 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation ofsettlement of payment in the FIG. 43 unmanned automatic vending system;

[0075]FIG. 46 is a configuration view showing a kiosk fee payment systemadopting an optical payment settlement system according to the presentinvention;

[0076]FIG. 47 is a detailed block diagram showing the kiosk fee paymentsystem of FIG. 46;

[0077]FIG. 48 is a flowchart view for explaining a fee payment operationin the FIG. 46 fee payment system;

[0078]FIG. 49A is a block diagram showing an automatic vending systemadopting a mobile collection device using a PDA;

[0079]FIG. 49B shows an example of the PDA applied in the FIG. 49Asystem;

[0080]FIG. 50A is a block diagram showing a mobile collection deviceusing a memory pack;

[0081]FIG. 50B shows a connection state of the memory pack of FIG. 50A;

[0082]FIG. 51A is a block diagram showing an automatic vending systemadopting a power line modem connection device;

[0083]FIG. 51B shows connection states of the automatic vendors appliedin the FIG. 51A system in a building;

[0084]FIG. 52A is a block diagram showing a mobile communications modemincorporated transmission terminal;

[0085]FIG. 52B shows an external appearance of the FIG. 52A mobilecommunications modem incorporated transmission terminal;

[0086]FIG. 53A is a block diagram showing an automatic vending systemadopting a portable phone connection device;

[0087]FIG. 53B shows an example of connection of the portable phone tothe vending system;

[0088]FIG. 54A is a block diagram showing an Internet accessible device;

[0089]FIG. 54B shows an external connection state with respect to a PC;

[0090]FIG. 55A is a block diagram showing a dial-up VAN accessibledevice;

[0091]FIG. 55B shows an external connection state of the FIG. 55Adial-up VAN accessible device;

[0092]FIG. 56 is a configuration view showing a bus/taxi fare automaticcollection system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0093]FIG. 57 is a detailed block diagram showing a RF terminal forcollecting bus fares;

[0094]FIG. 58 is a configuration view showing a subway fare automaticcollection system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0095]FIG. 59 is a detailed block diagram showing a RF terminal forcollecting subway fares;

[0096]FIG. 60 is a conceptual view showing an optical payment batchprocessing settlement system using a phone number as an ID;

[0097]FIG. 61 is a configuration view showing an embodiment of anelectronic commerce system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0098]FIG. 62 is a flowchart view for explaining a settlement operationin the FIG. 61 electronic commerce system;

[0099]FIG. 63 is a configuration view showing another embodiment of anelectronic commerce system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0100]FIG. 64 is a flowchart view for explaining a settlement operationin the FIG. 63 electronic commerce system;

[0101]FIG. 65 is a flowchart view in the case that the FIG. 61electronic commerce system is applied in a general store;

[0102]FIG. 66 is a diagram for explaining an authentication systemaccording to the present invention;

[0103]FIGS. 67A and 67B are views for explaining a process ofregistering user facial data in a portable terminal initially,respectively;

[0104]FIG. 68A is a view for explaining a user authentication process inthe facial data contained portable terminal;

[0105]FIG. 68B is a flowchart view for explaining a user authenticationprocess in the facial data contained portable terminal;

[0106]FIG. 69 shows a card information change service system provided inan optical payment settlement system according to the present invention;

[0107]FIG. 70 is a flowchart view in the FIG. 69 card information changeservice system provided in an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0108]FIG. 71 shows a card dealing suspension system according to thepresent invention;

[0109]FIG. 72 is a flowchart view for explaining a card B/L registrationmethod in the FIG. 71 system;

[0110]FIG. 73 is a flowchart view for explaining a card dealingsuspension method in the FIG. 71 system;

[0111]FIG. 74 is a configuration view showing a card loss service systemprovided in an optical payment settlement system according to thepresent invention;

[0112]FIG. 75 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation in theFIG. 74 card loss service system;

[0113]FIG. 76 is a configuration view showing a use details wirelesstransfer system provided in an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention;

[0114]FIG. 77 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation in theFIG. 76 use details wireless transfer system;

[0115]FIG. 78 is a block diagram showing a settlement system using arental type optical payment unit according to the present invention;

[0116]FIG. 79 is a flowchart view for explaining a rental process of anoptical transmitter;

[0117]FIG. 80 is a flowchart view for explaining a settlement process inthe FIG. 78 system;

[0118]FIG. 81 is a flowchart view for explaining a return process of anoptical transmitter;

[0119]FIG. 82 is a flowchart view for explaining a non-return process ofan optical transmitter;

[0120]FIG. 83 is a configuration view showing an entrance/exit securitysystem using an optical transceiver according to the present invention;

[0121]FIGS. 84 and 85 arc flowchart views for explaining anentrance/exit control process in the FIG. 83 system, respectively;

[0122]FIG. 86 is a configuration view showing a real-time valuetransferable electronic money system according to the present invention;

[0123]FIG. 87 shows configuration of display screens when an electronicmoney is withdrawn in an ATM;

[0124]FIG. 88 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation when anelectronic money is withdrawn in an ATM;

[0125]FIG. 89 shows configuration of display screens when an electronicmoney is exchanged between portable terminals;

[0126]FIG. 90 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation when anelectronic money is exchanged between portable terminals;

[0127]FIG. 91 shows configuration of display screens in the case ofpayment of an electronic money using a portable terminal; and

[0128]FIG. 92 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation in thecase of payment of an electronic money using a portable terminal.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0129] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there isprovided a card issuance method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving acard issuance application; (b) examining an issuance qualification withrespect to the received card issuance application; (c) encrypting cardinformation if the issuance qualification is met; (d) transferring theencrypted card information to an applicant designating portable terminalso as to be stored therein; and (e) if the encrypted card informationhas been completely stored, check a normal operation state and approvethe card information stored portable terminal to be used as a substitutecard.

[0130] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there isalso provided a card issuance system comprising: a card company serverreceiving a card issuance application, examining an issuancequalification encrypting card information if the issuance qualificationis met, and encrypting the card information and transferring theencrypted card information to an applicant designating portableterminal; and said portable terminal receiving and storing thetransmitted card information, and displaying the received cardinformation on a screen in order to inform the card issuance applicantthat the card issuance has been made.

[0131] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there isalso provided an optical payment transmitter for use in an opticaltransceiver apparatus for payment of expenses, the optical paymenttransmitter comprising: a memory storing user card information therein;an optical transceiver for optically transmitting and receiving cardinformation; a button for commanding an optical payment operation; acontroller for optically transmitting card information according to userbutton manipulation so that a settlement is completed; and a displaydisplaying an optical payment operation state, in which the opticalpayment transmitter is fabricated as a compact portable device.

[0132] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there isalso provided an optical payment receiver for use in a credit cardinquiry machine for receiving card information transmitted from aportable terminal and performing a settlement operation, the opticalpayment receiver comprising: an optical reception unit for receiving thecard information as an optical signal and performing a settlementaccording to the received card information.

[0133] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there isalso provided an optical payment system for paying for fees using anoptical signal, the optical payment system comprising: a mobile opticalrelayer for receiving a card information contained optical signal from auser terminal, temporarily storing corresponding card information, andoutputting the stored card information one time; and an optical relaybase device for receiving the card information from the mobile opticalrelayer and transmitting the received card information to a credit cardinquiry machine.

[0134] To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there isalso provided an optical settlement system for use in a commerce system,the optical settlement system comprising: an optical payment transmitterfor optically transmitting card information; an optical payment receiverfor optically receiving the transmitted card information; a credit cardinquiry machine for transferring the received card information andrequesting a transaction approval; and a settlement authority server fornotifying an approval result with respect to the received approvalrequest to the credit card inquiry machine.

[0135] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0136]FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an optical payment settlementsystem according to the present invention, which includes a cardissuance system and a card dealing settlement system. The card issuancesystem issues a card according to a method of inputting credit cardinformation to a portable terminal of a card applicant by a data opticaltransmission and reception method in which an optical transceiver isattached in a card issuance terminal of a card company, a method ofinputting card information in a battery pack of a portable terminal, ora method of downloading card information into a portable terminal bywire or wireless network. The card issuance system includes a cardissuance applicant 31, a card company 36 issuing the card, and a relayer37 for transferring the issued card information to a portable terminalpossessed by the applicant 31 using the above-described methods. Ofcourse, the card company 36 can directly perform the role of the relayer37. Between the relayer 37 and the applicant 31 is connected acommunications network 38 of a mobile communications company to whichthe portable terminal has been subscribed, in order to transmit the cardinformation to the portable terminal possessed by the applicant 31 by aradio frequency (RF) transmission and reception method. Between the cardcompany 36 and the relayer 37 is connected a phone network (X.25). Thesettlement system includes the portable terminal 31 for opticallytransmitting and receiving the issued credit standing information, acredit inquiry terminal 33 attached in a card dealing store, forreceiving a transmitted customer credit information signal using anattached optical receiver 32, and a settlement authority 36 such as acard company for performing credit transaction confirmation andtransaction approval. The settlement authority 36 is a bank or cardcompany. A transaction approval request is made via a VAN company 35.The relayer 34 is selectively connected between the credit inquiryterminal 33 of the card dealing subscriber and the VAN company 35.

[0137] First, a card issuance system which issues payment informationsuch as a credit card, a payment card, an electronic money, amerchandise coupon and so on, which is contained in a personal portableinformation device such as a portable phone or a PDA, will be describedbelow.

[0138]FIG. 4 illustrates a card issuance system according to anembodiment of the present invention. The system shown in FIG. 4 includesa card applicant 41, and a card company 42 for performing qualificationexamination and identification of an authorized person, to thereby issuea card. A relayer 44 transmits the information of the issued card to thecard applicant's designating portable terminal via a mobilecommunications network. Also, the FIG. 4 system includes a mobilecommunications company 43 which authenticates that the card issuanceapplicant 41 is same as the portable terminal possessor, and a mobilecommunications agency 45 which sells portable terminals and recommendssubscription of the portable terminals. An operation of the cardissuance of the FIG. 4 system having the above structure will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 5.

[0139] The card applicant 41 purchases a portable terminal such as aportable phone and a PDA which can be used as an optical payment unit,in the mobile communications company agency 45 (step 51). The cars usedin the present embodiment is a mobile communications terminal having aportable phone or a PDA form incorporated with an optical transceiverwhich can transmit and receive card information. The mobilecommunications company agency 45 transmits the received card issuanceapplication to the card company 42 via a card recruiter 46. The cardcompany 42 ascertains whether the card applicant is the same person asthat which is filled in the card issuance application and examines acard issuance qualification (step 52). In the case that the cardissuance application proved to be submitted by a person who lost a cardissuance qualification in the result of examination of step 52, the cardissuance application is returned to the card recruiter 46 or the cardapplicant 41 or card issuance is rejected. In the case that the cardissuance application has been passed through the card issuanceexamination, a person in charge enters the card applicant informationfilled in the card issuance application in a server in the card company42, to then let the server to produce a card number by a card numbergeneration program (step 53). The card company 42 requests a computerserver in the mobile communications company 43 to ascertain whether aportable terminal in which the residence number and card information ofthe card issuance applicant are stored is possessed by the cardapplicant via a dedicated line which has been already installedaccording to the contract (step 54). If the residence numbers do notmatch between the possessor of the portable terminal and the cardapplicant in the result of ascertainment of step 54, the card issuanceapplication is returned. If it is ascertained that the portable terminalis possessed by the card applicant 41, the server in the card company 42encrypts the credit card information including the generated card numberand transmits the encrypted credit card information to the relayer 44via the dedicated line together with the portable terminal number (step55). The relayer 44 receives the encrypted card information togetherwith the portable terminal number. The relayer 44 calls the portableterminal having the same number as the received portable terminal numbervia the mobile communications network and transmits the credit cardinformation at the connected state where the relayer 44 is connected tothe portable terminal (step 56). The portable terminal stores thereceived credit card information in a memory region which is notaccessible by a user, and displays a message for user confirmation on ascreen (step 57). On the portable terminal screen, is displayed amessage “Dear Mr. Kim, congratulate on your card subscription. Yourcredit limit is one million U.S. dollars.” Thus, the user can ascertainhis or her own name and credit limit and so on, and check whether or noterror information has been input (step 58). Upon confirmation, theportable terminal returns to step 56 so that the relayer 44 canre-transmit the card information in order to perform the operations ofsteps 56-58 again, if the received information has not been normallyinput.

[0140] Here, the above card issuance system is called a push system.According to the push system, a portable terminal designated at the timewhen a card issuance application has been submitted is called if a cardapplicant is a person who meets a card issuance qualification conditionand stores card information transmitted from a card company therein, andthen notifies the card applicant that a card has been issued,irrespective of connection of the card applicant to the card company.However, a card can be also issued at the state where a user gainsaccess to the relayer 44 via the Internet. Briefly, the relayer 44transmits the card issuance notification to the portable terminal via amobile communications network at the state where the card information isreceived from the card company 42. A customer who confirms the cardissuance notification via the portable terminal manipulates the keypadon the portable terminal to gain access to the relayer 44 and wirelessinternet. The relayer 44 transmits a message for requesting a personalidentification data to a customer in a wireless internet connectionstate. The customer who receives the message for requesting the personalidentification data manipulates the keypad on the portable terminal andtransmits the personal identification data to the relayer 44. Therelayer 44 which receives the personal identification data judgeswhether or not the customer to be in connection is an authorized person.If the customer is an authorized person, the relayer 44 transmits thecredit card information to the portable terminal. The portable terminalstores the received credit card information in a memory incorporatedtherein, displays a message “normally received” on a screen, and endsits operations, to enable a user to confirm the normal input. Meanwhile,if the customer is not an authorized person, the relayer 44 make theportable terminal display a message “You are not an authorized person,and card information can not be issued.” on a screen, and end itsoperations. Like this, in the case of the card issuance via theInternet, card issuance is not notified to the card applicant afterissuance of the card but card reception intention is asked and then acard is issued to the card applicant only in the case that the cardapplicant acknowledges the card reception.

[0141] Besides, a detachable IC card using methods such as subscriberidentity module (SIM), universal subscriber identity module (USIM) anduser identity module (UIM) is mounted on the portable terminal, to beused for downloading and storing the card information.

[0142] In addition, a card applicant can visit a card company anddirectly input card information into a portable terminal. This is calleda keypad system. A card issuance system using the keypad system is shownin FIG. 6.

[0143]FIG. 6 illustrates a card issuance system according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. The system shown in FIG. 6 includesa portable terminal 61 in which an optical transceiver 62 is attached,which receives issued card information and functions as an opticalpayment unit. A card issuance terminal 64 in which an opticaltransceiver 63 is attached, inputs the issued card information into theportable terminal 61 possessed by a card applicant. The portableterminal 61 is connected to the card issuance terminal 64 via wire orwirelessly. The FIG. 6 system includes a computer network 65 and a maincomputer 66 of a card-issuance-related banking authority. An operationof the card issuance of the FIG. 6 system having the above configurationwill be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.

[0144] A card applicant pays a visit to a card issuance company, holdinghis or her own portable terminal in person, and fills in a card issuanceapplication and submits the same to the company (step 71). A cardissuing person inputs contents filled in the submitted application in acomputer via the card issuance terminal 64 (step 72). The contentsstored in the computer is transmitted to the main computer via thecomputer network 65. Also, the card issuing person identifies whetherthe card applicant is the same person as one whose information has beenfilled in the card issuance application, through an identification cardsuch as a residence card, a passport, and a driving license (step 73).After identification, the card issuing person converts the card issuanceterminal 64 into an input mode (step 74), and then ascertains whetherthe number of the portable terminal 61 being an input object isidentifies with that of the submitted portable terminal (step 75). Inthis case, the portable terminal is identified by asking or calling amobile communications company if the number of the portable terminal 61is identifies with that of the submitted portable terminal. Then, thesubmitted portable terminal 61 is converted into a card input mode (step76). If the card issuance terminal 64 and the portable terminal 61 havebeen converted into the input mode, respectively through steps 74 and76, the optical transceiver 62 attached to the portable terminal 61 andthe optical transceiver 63 attached to the card issuance terminal 64 arepositioned to face each other so that the one can optically transmit andreceive card information to and from the other. Of course, the cardissuance terminal 64 and the portable terminal 61 can be directlyconnected by cable, to thereby transmit and received card information.The card issuing person presses predetermined input buttons on akeyboard of the card issuance terminal 64 to thereby transmit personalcard information, a name, and other information required by a bankingauthority (step 77). Here, the transmitted information is input to themain computer 66 through the computer network 65 as well as the portableterminal 61 and then recorded therein. The portable terminal 61 receivesthe information transmitted from the optical transceiver 63 of the cardissuance terminal 64 via the optical transceiver 62 and records thereceived information therein (step 78). When the card information hasbeen completely input, the optical transceiver 62 is positioned to facethe optical transceiver 63 at a normal operational state confirmationmode of the card issuance terminal 64, and then the predeterminedbuttons are pressed to ascertain an operational state (step 79). If itis confirmed that there is no abnormality, the personal card informationentry is finally approved (step 80).

[0145] Other than the optical transmission and reception, the portableterminal can be connected to the card issuance terminal by cable via anexternal communications port provided in the portable terminal, so thatcard information can be stored in the portable terminal. A variety ofinformation can be stored in the portable terminal by means of thepreviously described optical payment device other than the cardinformation. That is, existing ticket- or coupon-fashioned premiuminformation and respective service card information is stored and thentransmitted via an optical transceiver.

[0146]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an optical payment unitaccording to the present invention. The FIG. 8 optical payment unitincludes an optical transmitter 81 for converting an electrical signalinto an optical signal, an optical receiver 82 for converting an opticalsignal into an electrical signal and a memory 83 storing variousinformation including input card information. A controller 84 stores theinput information and controls respective elements so that the storedinformation can be used as payment information. The optical transmitter81 is connected to a modulator 85 for modulating a signal to betransmitted and the optical receiver 82 is connected to a demodulator 86for demodulating a received signal. Interfacers 87 and 88 perform aninterfacing operation between the modulator 85 and the controller 84,and between the demodulator 86 and the controller 84, respectively.

[0147] The optical payment unit according to the present invention isnot limited to a portable terminal being a mobile communicationsterminal in which an optical transceiver is attached, and is applied toa key-chain, a watch, an electronic notebook, a PDA, and so on, whichenables fabrication of a variety of mobile units (MUs) which can beselectively used according to users' needs.

[0148]FIG. 9 shows an external appearance of an optical payment unitfabricated in a portable phone shape. An optical transceiver 121 foroptically transmitting and receiving card information is attached to theportable phone shown in FIG. 9. Also, buttons for commanding opticaltransmission operations of the card information are provided on a keypad124 additionally. Of course, existing keys on the keypad can be used. Abutton 122 for commanding an optical transmission operation of a trafficcard function is provided in a proper position of the portable phone, inthe case of a portable phone shaped optical payment unit. An opticalpayment operation is displayed on a liquid crystal display (LCD) 123.Also, a signature tag 125 for showing a card membership signature isattached to a proper position at which the portion is not easily wornduring use of the portable phone, which can satisfy a signatureconfirmation request as in the case of using a magnetic card.

[0149]FIG. 10A is a block diagram showing an optical payment unitfabricated in a key chain shape, and FIG. 10B shows an externalappearance of the FIG. 10A optical payment unit fabricated in a keychain shape. The key chain internal configuration shown in FIG. 10Aincludes an infrared receiver 91A for receiving credit card informationof an infrared signal and converting the infrared signal into anelectrical signal and an infrared decoder 92A for altering the convertedelectrical signal into a UART standard signal. A UART portion 93transforms a UART standard serial electrical signal into an 8-bitparallel signal. Also, the key chain shaped optical payment unitincludes a memory 95 storing the received credit card information, apetty money button 96 and a credit button 97 both for commanding anoptical transmission payment operation. A display 98 is formed of lightemitting diodes (LEDs) and displays an operational state. Meanwhile, thekey chain optical payment unit includes a CPU 94 for transferring creditinformation of infrared signals according to a user's buttonmanipulation and performing a control operation to be settled, aninfrared encoder 92B for altering a UART standard electrical signal intoan infrared standard signal, and an infrared light emitting portion 91Bfor converting and transmitting an electrical signal into an infraredsignal. The key chain shaped optical payment unit 90 having the aboveconfiguration is fabricated into a compact key ring to be convenientlyhand-held as shown in FIG. 10B. Here, a ring 99 is provided to beconveniently combined with other keys.

[0150] When a user presses the petty cash button 96 for credit dealingor the credit button 97 for petty money dealing, the CPU 94 receivingbutton inputs reads credit card information from the memory 95 in whichpayment information is stored. The UART portion 93 converts the creditcard information read via the CPU 94 into a serial patterned UARTstandard signal and transmits the converted result to the infraredencoder 92B. The infrared encoder 92B converts the UART standard serialsignal into the infrared standard signal, and transmits the convertedresult via the infrared light emitting portion 91B. The infrared creditcard information is transmitted to a credit card inquiry terminal, thatis a base unit (BU) in which an optical transceiver is attached, so asto be settled. Usually, if credit information is normally received, thebase unit responds to the received credit information in an infraredsignal. The infrared signal is received in the infrared receiver 91A ofthe optical payment unit 90 and converted into an electrical signal. Theinfrared decoder 92A changes the converted electrical signal to the UARTstandard signal. The UART portion 93 converts the UART standard signalinto the 8-bit unit parallel signal and transmits the converted resultto the CPU 94. The CPU 94 performs a communications operation accordingto a protocol determined by an internal program and controls the display98 to display the communications success or failure thereon.

[0151] Here, additional buttons for performing credit dealing and pettymoney dealing are provided, so that a respectively different operationis performed during a petty money dealing and a large sum dealing.First, in the case of a petty settlement such as a traffic fare, asecret input is not needed. Thus, a simple settlement can be performedwith only one touch of the petty money button 96. However, in the caseof a large sum settlement, a settlement is usually performed byconfirmation of a secret number. Thus, in the case that the creditbutton 97 is pressed, a credit card inquiry machine (not shown) at areception end requests a secret number, and then a user inputs a secretnumber using a keypad at the reception end in which a personalidentification number (PIN) input keypad is provided, to thereby performa business transaction.

[0152] In the case that a secret number input means such as a keypad isinstalled for a large sum settlement which requires a secret numberinput, a production cost increases and a volume of the device isenlarged. Thus, the present invention incorporates a tone recognitionmodule of a portable phone keypad in the above-described optical paymentunit, so that a secret number can be input using the portable phonekeypad. That is, in the case of a large sum settlement, the tonerecognition module is positioned to be close to the speaker of theportable phone. In this state, a secret number is pressed using theportable phone keypad. Then, the portable phone speaker outputs a dialtone signal corresponding to the corresponding number of the pressedbuttons. Then, the tone recognition module receives a tone signalcorresponding to the corresponding secret number and recognizes thesecret number from the received tone signal. If the large sum settlementbutton is pressed in this state, the CPU 94 transmits the secret numberrecognized in the tone recognition module externally. Here, since thetransmitted secret number is not stored in the optical payment unit butoutput externally, there is no concern about an exposure of the secretnumber even in the case of loss or theft of the optical payment unit.

[0153] Portable phones possessed by most people can be used as theabove-described optical payment unit. In this case, it is preferablethat an optical transmission circuit is integrated and incorporated intoa portable phone circuit. However, it takes much time and requires muchcost to design and fabricate a new portable phone incorporated with theoptical transmission circuit. Thus, an optical transmitter isincorporated into a battery of the portable terminal such as theportable phone, so that a currently available portable terminal is usedas it is while performing the function of an optical payment settlementsystem.

[0154]FIG. 11 illustrates an external appearance of a portable terminalbattery pack including an optical transceiver according to the presentinvention.

[0155] A portable terminal 100 is a terminal which is carried andmovable by a user, including a portable phone, a wireless Internetcommunications terminal and a PDA. A pack-type battery 101 includes arechargeable battery 105 for supplying power to the portable terminal100, a charging circuit and charging taps 107. Also, the battery 101includes an optical transmitter for enabling an optical payment creditdealing as in a credit card. The optical transmitter is incorporatedinto the battery 101, which includes the optical transmission circuit102 for generating an optical signal, a light emitting element 103 foremitting an optical signal from the optical transmission circuit 102externally, and a settlement switch 104 for approving a settlement ofthe optical payment according to the emitted optical signal.

[0156] The optical transmission circuit 102 is incorporated using aninternal clearance space in the battery pack 101. The light emittingelement 103 is attached near the charging taps 107. Of course, the lightemitting element 103 can be attached in a proper place of the batterypack 101 so as to perform an optical transmission easily. In the casethat the light emitting element 103 is attached in the periphery of thecharging taps 107 as in this embodiment, the light emitting element 103should be attached so that it is not protruded from an external surfaceof the battery pack 101. Also, the settlement switch 104 is attachedunprotrudingly on the rear surface of the battery pack 101 in order toprevent an unwanted settlement optical signal from be emitted due to anexternal contact.

[0157]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an optical transmission circuitincluded in a battery pack 101.

[0158] A power circuit 111 is a circuit for supplying power to anoptical transmission unit, in which power is obtained from arechargeable battery in the battery pack. The memory 113 stores usercredit dealing information and an optical transmitter 114 convertscredit dealing information into an optical signal so as to be externallyemitted. A controller 112 transmits information from the memory 113 tothe optical transmitter 114, and controls the operation of a circuit112.

[0159] If a user presses a settlement switch 104 attached in the batterypack 101, the power circuit 111 supplies power to the whole parts of theoptical transmission circuit 102. Then, the controller 112 readsinformation from the memory 113 and transmits the read information tothe optical transmitter 114. The optical transmitter 114 converts thereceived information into an optical signal such as an infrared signal.That is, received digital information is converted into an opticalsignal using a light intensity. In the case that a longer transmissiondistance is needed, a communications distance can be increased using anadditional modulation/demodulation unit. The converted optical signal isemitted via the light emitting element 103 externally. Here, an IC chipsuch as an IC card can be used as the memory 113. The IC chip has asingle unique recognition number, to thereby prevent personalinformation from being leaked due to an illegal reproduction of the ICchip.

[0160] As another embodiment, the optical transmission circuit 102 canbe incorporated in the portable terminal 100 not in the battery pack101. In this case, a connection means is needed for connecting theoptical transmission circuit 102 incorporated in the portable terminal100 to the light emitting element 103 and the settlement switch both ofwhich are attached in the battery pack 101. Such a connection means isformed by using a power supply terminal for supplying power to theportable terminal 100 or an additional terminal.

[0161]FIG. 13A is a front-end bottom view showing a connection statebetween an optical transceiver plug device and a portable phone device,and FIG. 13B is a rear view showing a connection state between anoptical transceiver plug device and a portable phone device. FIG. 14 isa detailed configuration view showing an optical transceiver plugdevice.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 14, the optical transceiver plug device includesa circuit 131 provided in a case 130 and an optical transceiver 132 foroptically transmitting and receiving data. A connection cable 133 isformed on one side of the circuit 131 to connect with a plug 134. Theplug 134 is connected to an external communications port provided on thebottom of the portable phone as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B. Also, theoptical transceiver plug device includes optical transmission andreception windows 135 formed on one surface of the case 130, to therebyform an entrance and exit portion of an optical signal transmitted toand received from the optical transceiver 132. As shown in FIG. 13B, theoptical transceiver plug device is connected so that the opticaltransmission and reception windows 135 face the rear surface of theportable phone. Thus, the user connects the plug device with theportable phone without changing a basic design and structure of theportable phone, and then performs an optical transmission and receptionfunction conveniently at the state where the user opposes the portablephone.

[0163] A conventional credit card inquiry machine adopts a method ofreceiving credit information via a magnetic card or a contact-type ICcard and processing the same. For this reason, the conventional creditcard inquiry machine cannot receive an infrared credit informationtransmitted from the optical payment unit according to the presentinvention. Thus, an optical receiver is incorporated in the credit cardinquiry machine so that the infrared credit information can be directlyreceived in the credit card inquiry machine. The optical receiver willbe described with reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B.

[0164]FIG. 15A is a block diagram showing an optical receiverincorporated credit card inquiry machine according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, and FIG. 15B shows an external appearance of theFIG. 15A optical receiver incorporated credit card inquiry machine.

[0165] The credit card inquiry machine 140 shown in FIG. 15A includes aninfrared receiver 141A for converting an infrared signal into anelectrical signal and a decoder 142A for converting the electricalsignal into a UART standard signal according to a conversion of theinfrared signal. A UART portion 143 transforms an input serialelectrical signal into an 8-bit parallel signal, to then transfer theresultant signal to a CPU 144. The CPU 144 controls the entireoperation. Also, the credit card inquiry machine 140 includes an encoder142B for altering a UART standard electrical signal into an infraredsignal, and an infrared light emitting portion 141B for transmitting theinfrared signal. A keypad 145 receives a user key input and thentransmits the same to the CPU 144. A display 146 is formed of lightemitting diodes (LEDs) or a liquid crystal display (LCD) and displays anoperational state. Meanwhile, the optical receiver incorporated creditcard inquiry machine 140 has an external appearance as shown in FIG.15B.

[0166] The optical receiver incorporated credit card inquiry 140performs the same operation as a settlement procedure using a magneticcard even in the case of the optical payment settlement. First, if acustomer expresses a credit dealing intention using an optical paymentunit (not shown), a credit dealing mode is input using a predeterminedfunction key on a keypad 145. A CPU 144 having received key inputsrequests a card input via a display 146. Usually, a card insertedaccording to the card input request is read by a card reader 147, sothat card information stored in the magnetic portion of the card isinput. Here, in the case that a customer indicates a credit dealingintention using the optical payment unit, a credit dealing button (FIG.10A) in the optical payment unit is pressed so that card information istransmitted in the form of an infrared ray. The infrared receiver 141incorporated in the credit card inquiry machine 140 detects the infraredcard information and converts the detected result into an electricalsignal to be transmitted to an infrared decoder 142A. The infrareddecoder 142A decodes the card information into a UART standard signal tobe transmitted to a UART portion 143. The UART portion 143 converts thereceived UART standard card information signal into an 8-bit parallelsignal to be transmitted to the CPU 144. Accordingly, the CPU 144receives the card information and let a settlement to be completed.Several services which had been impossible in the past can be possible.That is, existing available service purposed coupon can be transmittedto an optical payment unit in an electronic pattern, to thereby providea new service.

[0167] The above-described optical receiver incorporation type requiresthat additional space and an interface unit in the credit card inquirymachine be provided. Thus, such an optical receiver incorporation typeis not easy to be applied to credit card inquiry machines which havebeen fabricated or available on market. An optical receiver externallyinstalled credit card inquiry machine is shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, inwhich an optical receiver is connected to an external communicationsport in a credit card inquiry machine so as to receive creditinformation which is transmitted in the form of an optical signal.

[0168]FIG. 16A is a block diagram showing an optical receiver externallyinstalled credit card inquiry machine according to another embodiment ofthe present invention, and FIG. 16B shows a connection state of the FIG.16A optical receiver externally installed credit card inquiry machine,in which the optical receiver is connected to the credit card inquirymachine by cable. An externally installed optical receiver 150 shown inFIG. 16A receives optically transmitted credit information, converts thereceived credit information into a signal of the form which can berecognized in a credit card inquiry machine 155, and transmits theconverted result to the credit card inquiry machine 155. Here, theexternally installed optical receiver 150 is connected to the creditcard inquiry machine 155 by cable as shown in FIG. 16B. The operationfor an optical payment settlement in FIGS. 16A and 16B is same as thatof the optical receiver incorporated credit card inquiry 140 shown inFIGS. 15A and 15B.

[0169] However, even in the case of the externally installed opticalreceiver, a program stored in the credit card inquiry machine should bemodified. Thus, considering that respective existing credit card inquirymachines are provided with a card reader slot having an identicalmagnitude, an adapter which can be fitted into the slot is fabricated,which is shown in FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C.

[0170]FIG. 17A is a block diagram showing an adapter in a credit cardinquiry machine according to still another embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 17B is a block diagram showing a magnetic interface cardof FIG. 17A, and FIG. 17C is a connection state between the adapter ofFIG. 17A and the credit card inquiry machine.

[0171] An adapter 160 shown in FIG. 17A includes an infrared receiver161A and an infrared emitter 161B for receiving and transmitting aninfrared signal, respectively. An infrared decoder 162A connected to theinfrared receiver 161A decodes the received card information into a UARTstandard signal. An infrared encoder 162B connected to the infraredemitter 161B encodes a UART standard signal into an infrared signal. Theadapter 160 of FIG. 17A also includes a UART portion 163 for convertinga decoded UART standard signal into an 8-bit parallel signal orconverting a parallel signal transmitted from a controller 164 into aserial patterned signal, and the controller 164 for applying a pulsesignal in order to alter an electrical signal concerning cardinformation into an electromagnetic signal of an ISO-7811 type by atransform algorithm prepared in a transfer mode. A driver 165 connectedto the controller 164 adjusts an impedance voltage according to a pulsesignal applied from the controller 164. The impedance voltage controlledalternating current signal is applied to a coil incorporated in amagnetic interface card 166, to thereby generate change of a magneticflux. The magnetic interface card 166 is formed so that coil is wound ata predetermined position of an iron core as shown in FIG. 17B. Thegenerated magnetic flux change brings out a swapping effect as if amagnetic card is swapped in a card reader 147. Accordingly, the cardreader 147 in the credit card inquiry machine 155 acquires creditinformation by a credit card reading procedure and then transmits theread credit information via a VAN network 157. The adapter having theabove configuration is used as shown in FIG. 17C, in which the magneticinterface card 166 and the adapter 160 are connected each other by cable167, at the state where the magnetic interface card 166 is inserted intothe card reader 147 of the credit card inquiry machine 155.

[0172] However, in the case of the above-described adapter, a magneticinterface card should be inserted and taken out every time when asettlement is made by an optical payment unit and a magnetic card. Thus,an adapter which can be settled by a magnetic card without taking out amagnetic interface card is shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B.

[0173]FIG. 18A is a block diagram showing an adapter having a cardreader in a credit card inquiry machine according to yet anotherembodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18B is a connection statebetween the adapter of FIG. 18A and the credit card inquiry machine. Theconfiguration of an adapter 170 shown in FIG. 18A is same as that of theadapter 160 shown in FIG. 17A. The adapter 170 of FIG. 18A furtherincludes a card reader 173 for reading a magnetic card which isconnected to a UART portion 174. In the case of using the adapter 170having the above configuration, two kinds of settlement using an opticalpayment unit or a magnetic card can be processed at the state where amagnetic interface card 177 has been inserted into the card reader 147.

[0174] First, if a customer expresses a credit dealing intention usingan optical payment unit, a credit dealing mode is input using apredetermined function key on a credit card inquiry machine 155. Thecredit card inquiry machine 155 requests a card input via a display 146.The customer presses a predetermined credit dealing button in a portableterminal such as a portable phone or PDA possessed as the opticalpayment unit so that credit information is transmitted in the form of aninfrared ray. The adapter 170 connected to the magnetic interface card177 inserted into the card reader 147 of the credit card inquiry machine155 by cable receives credit information via the infrared receiver 171A.

[0175] Meanwhile, if a customer expresses a credit dealing intentionusing a magnetic card, a credit dealing mode is input using apredetermined function key on a credit card inquiry machine 155. Thecredit card inquiry machine 155 requests a card input via a display 146.The customer inputs card information stored in a magnetic portion of thecard via the card reader 173 attached to the adapter 170. The cardinformation input via the card reader 173 is converted into an 8-bitparallel signal via the UART portion 174 and transmitted to the CPU 175.The CPU 175 applies an alternating current signal to an I/F converter176 in order to alter the card information transmitted from the UARTportion 174 into an electromagnetic change of the ISO-7811 type. The I/Fconverter 176 converts the applied alternating current signal into animpedance voltage appropriate for the magnetic interface card 177inserted into the slot of the credit card inquiry machine 155 andtransmits the altered impedance voltage. The magnetic interface card 177generates a flux change in an iron core when the alternating currentsignal transmitted via the I/F converter 176 has been applied to thecoil. The generated flux change brings out an effect like a swappingeffect of a magnetic card. Of course, the card information read throughthe card reader 173 attached to the adapter 170 can be transmitted tothe credit card inquiry machine 155 directly.

[0176] Meanwhile, the above-described optical payment unit can settleusing an infrared communication only in the case that a card inquirymachine is positioned close to a customer. That is, the current infraredcommunication distance is limited to one meter or so. This makessettlement using the optical payment unit inconvenient at gas stations,department stores where card inquiry machines are installed in severallimited places, and restaurants having several compartments. Thus, amobile relayer is shown in FIGS. 19A through 19D, in which user creditinformation is received at a current position of a user, the creditinformation is temporarily stored and then the stored credit informationis used only one-time for a settlement.

[0177]FIG. 19A is a block diagram showing a mobile optical relayeraccording to the present invention. FIG. 19B is a block diagram showinga mobile optical relayer base device according to the present invention.FIG. 19C is a connection state of the mobile optical relayer of FIG.19A. FIG. 19D is a connection state of the mobile optical relayer basedevice of FIG. 19B. A mobile optical relayer 180 is movable, whichreceives user credit information in an optical signal from a userterminal, stores the same temporarily, and transmits the stored creditinformation to an optical relayer base unit 190 or an optical receiverattached credit card inquiry machine only one time.

[0178] The optical relayer base unit 190 is connected to a credit cardinquiry machine by cable or through an adapter, which receives creditinformation the mobile optical relayer 180 and transmits the receivedcredit information to the card inquiry machine 155 in order to inquirethe creditability of the user. Here, the optical relayer base unit 190user (customer) credit information via an optical signal transmittedfrom the mobile optical relayer 180, or receives user credit informationfrom the mobile optical relayer 180 at the state where the opticallyrelayer base unit 190 is connected to the mobile optical relayer 180 viaa connector.

[0179] In the mobile optical relayer 180, an infrared receiver 181Areceives credit information in the form of an infrared signal from aportable terminal and converts the same into an electrical signal. A CPU184 temporarily stores the received credit information in a memory 185,and controls a LED 186 to operate and indicate that the creditinformation has been normally received. After recognizing the display ofthe LED 186, the optical relayer 180 is positioned on the opticalrelayer base unit 190 connected to the credit card inquiry machine 155and then a data transfer button 187 is pressed. Here, the opticalrelayer 180 is connected to the optical relayer base unit 190 as shownin FIG. 19C, or connected thereto in the form of an infrared signal asshown in FIG. 19D. In the case of the connector connection of FIG. 19C,the CPU 184 in the optical relayer 180 transmits the credit informationstored in the memory 185 to the optical relayer base unit 190 via atransfer port 188. In the case of the infrared signal connection asshown in FIG. 19D, the CPU 184 in the optical relayer 180 converts thecredit information stored in the memory 185 into an infrared signal viathe infrared emitter 181B, and transmits the converted result to theoptical relayer base unit 190. The CPU 184 receives credit informationand then deletes corresponding credit information from the memory 185.

[0180] In the optical relayer base unit 190, a reception port 194 isconnected to the transfer port 188 of the optical relayer 180, receivescredit information transmitted in the form of a UART standard signal andoutputs the received credit information to a CPU 195. An infraredreceiver 191A receives credit information in the form of an infraredsignal transmitted from the infrared emitter 181B of the optical relayer180 and converts the received credit information into an electricalsignal. The CPU 195 transmits the credit information received via thereception port 194 or the infrared receiver 191A to the credit cardinquiry machine 155 connected by cable.

[0181] Also, the above-described optical relayer 180 can be fabricatedso as to be easily used at a circumstance where a clip is attached tothe optical relayer, so that a slip is presented in a distance from acounter as in a restaurant, in order to make a settlement, as shown inFIGS. 20A through 20D. Referring to FIG. 20A, a slip fitted on asettlement binder using a clip 196 of the optical relayer 180 ispresented to a customer. Accordingly, the customer can check acalculated amount at a sitting table and optically pay for the expenses.FIG. 20B shows a lateral shape of a clip-type optical relayer. Theclip-type optical relayer is attached to a charging unit at ordinarytimes and prepared on a counter. As shown in FIG. 20C, the charging unit197 is fabricated in the form that a clip-type optical relayer is easilymounted, and a battery accommodated in the optical relayer 180 ischarged via charging connection portions 198, which can be always used.FIG. 20D shows a lateral shape of a clip-type optical relayer which ismounted in a charging unit.

[0182] The optical relayer base unit 190 can be fabricated in an adapterform so as to be connected to an existing credit card inquiry machinewithout any change of functions and external appearance thereof like anadapter-type credit card inquiry machine as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B.This adapter-type optical relay base device is shown in FIG. 21.Referring to FIG. 21, an I/F card 201 is inserted into a slot of acredit card inquiry machine 200. An optical payment unit according tothe present invention transmits card information in an infrared signal,in which the card information needs to be encrypted for card security.

[0183]FIG. 22 is a block diagram for explaining a card informationencryption method according to the present invention.

[0184] Referring to FIG. 22, a card number is formed of a set of anactual card number and an authentication number assigned by a cardcompany. The thus-formed card number has 40 bytes approximately. Arelayer 210 receives the card number and executes a compressionalgorithm set in a compressor 211 to compress the card numberinformation. Here, the compressor 211 uses a compression table 212 andconverts the received card information into card information which canbe stored in a portable terminal 215. The compressed card information isabout 20 bytes. The thus-converted card information makes a pairtogether with a card ID assigned from a card ID assignor 213, so as tobe transmitted to the portable terminal 215. Here, the card ID isinformation for discriminating the kind of a card with the correspondingcard information.

[0185] The portable terminal 215 receives card information including acard ID from the relayer 210. A storage index portion 216 in theportable terminal 215 registers the card ID included in the transmittedcard information as an index and stores the card information in a memory217. The storage index portion 216 also stores a card name correspondingto the card information stored in the memory 217 in a screen displaymemory 218, in order to make a user confirm the kind of the cardselected by him or her. Thus, when a user selects a card, thecorresponding card name stored in the screen display memory 218 isdisplayed on a screen so that the user can ascertain the selected card.Here, the storage index portion 216 has an index memory as shown in FIG.23A. The index memory comprises a total length {circle over (1)} ofstored indexes, IDs {circle over (2)} of the card information selectedby a user among various kinds of card information, and index information{circle over (3)} representing positions where the card information isactually stored. As shown in FIG. 23b, a card ID {circle over (1)} foridentifying a kind of the payment information is paired with actual cardinformation {circle over (2)} corresponding to the card ID and aplurality of the pair are stored in the card information in a memory217. As shown in FIG. 23c, a card ID {circle over (1)} for identifyingthe payment information and a letter or a logo data {circle over (2)}for displaying an actual kind of the card are stored in the screendisplay memory 218. The screen logo may be a logo of a card company orits partner. A card ID which is stored in the memory 217 and the screendisplay memory 218, respectively, has a same value.

[0186] The process for transmitting and receiving the card information,in a state that the card information is encoded and stored in theportable terminal 215 as above, is described.

[0187]FIG. 24 illustrates a communications procedure between the opticalpayment transceivers.

[0188] In FIG. 24, if an optical payment settlement is selected by auser, an optical payment receiver illustrated as a base unit (BA) 235requests a corresponding optical payment transmitter illustrated as amobile unit (MU) 230 to send a signal. The MU 230 transmits index datastored in an index memory in response to a signal request from the BU235. Here, the index data is an address for pointing a storage locationof the card information stored in the card information memory 217. TheBU 235 receives the index data, compares the received index data with aprestored index analysis table, and creates an encryption key in thereceived index data proved a significant index. The BU 235 sends thecreated encryption key to the MU 230 together with a memory accesscommand. The MU 230 extracts an encryption key from the encryption keysignal, reads the card information stored in the card information memory217, and encrypts the read card information with the extractedencryption key again. The thus-encrypted card information is transmittedto the BU 235. The BU 235 decodes the received card information with apossessed encryption key, and then restores the decoded card informationinto card information according to a predetermined compression table.

[0189] An infrared data transmission method is a protocol for a one-to-Ntransmission, in which a recognition protocol is complicated betweencommunicating stations and thus it takes 2-3 seconds only in the casethat a mutual recognition is performed between the communicatingstations only with a basic protocol link hierarchy, which causes a timedelay. The one-to-N transmission protocol cannot be applied to a feepayment field where an information transfer time is of importancebecause of the above time delay. Thus, a new communications protocol ispresented for a one-to-one communication.

[0190]FIGS. 25 and 26 illustrate a communications protocol applied to asettlement method using an optical payment according to the presentinvention, respectively. The BU 235 emits a pilot signal for findingwhether there is any counterpart station which is in a communicatingstate within a communications distance ({circle over (1)}). The pilotsignal includes an ECC (Error Correcting Code) (for example, a BCC(Block Check Character)) value for guaranteeing a faultlessness ofcommunicating data, and its own ID (BU-ID) value for guaranteeing aone-to-one communication. Meanwhile, the BU 230 checks if there is abutton input (step 251). If there is a button input, the MU 230ascertains whether a pilot signal is received from the BU235 and anerror is generated (step 252). The MU 230 having received the pilotsignal ascertains whether a pilot signal is received within apredetermined reception standby time after having received a buttoninput and the received pilot signal is transmitted without having anydeformation, from the ECC value included in the received data. If isascertained that the pilot signal has been received within apredetermined time without having any error, the ID value (BU-ID) of theBU 235 included in the received data is extracted in order to guaranteethe faultlessness of the whole forthcoming communications, and its ownID value (MU-ID) is created and stored (step 253). The MU 230 calculatesan index value for pointing a value indicating its owncommunication-ready state and a stored card information value, an IDvalue (MU-ID) indicating its own body, an ID value (BU-ID) of the BU 235having sent a communications request, and the ECC value for guaranteeinga faultlessness of the whole data to be transmitted ({circle over (2)})(step 254). The BU 235 having received the ECC value ascertains whetherthe received communication standby signal indicated as the number{circle over (2)} has been transmitted without any deformation, from thereceived ECC value included in the received data. The BU 235 ascertainswhether there is a response with respect to his or her requestcommunications with its own ID value (BU-ID) included in the receiveddata. If all match, the BU 235 keeps in custody the ID value (MU-ID) ofthe MU 230 included in the communication standby signal in order toguarantee the faultlessness of the whole communications. The BU 235decrypts the index value for pointing a credit information valueincluded in the received communications standby signal shown in {circleover (2)} of FIG. 25, by using a predetermined index table and thenextracts a value for pointing necessary credit information. The BU 235creates an encryption key to be used during communications and transmitsit together with the ID value (MU-ID) of the MU 230 ({circle over (3)}).The MU 230 having received the encryption key ascertains whether thereceived encryption key and command signal has been transmitted withoutany deformation, from the received ECC value included in the receiveddata (step 255). If ascertained, the MU 230 ascertains whether there isa response with respect to his or her request communications with theMU-ID value included in the received data (step 256). If the MU-ID valueis not equal to the ID of the MU 230, the MU 230 stands by a receptionfor a predetermined tome (step 257). If a matching MU-ID value is notreceived even though a reception standby time elapses for apredetermined time, the MU 230 returns to step 251 to perform the steps251-257 again. If all match, the BU 235 keeps in custody the ID value(MU-ID) of the MU 230 included in the communication standby signal inorder to guarantee the faultlessness of the whole communications. The BU235 decrypts the index value for pointing a credit information valueincluded in the received communications standby signal shown in {circleover (2)} of FIG. 25, by using a predetermined index table and thenextracts a value for pointing necessary credit information. If thereceived MU-ID value is equal to the ID of the MU 230, the MU 230 readsdata from a storage device according to the re-transmitted command, andthen encrypts the read data with an encryption key (step 258). Theencrypted data is transmitted to the BU 235 ({circle over (4)}) (step259). The BU 235 having received the encrypted data ascertains whetherthe received encrypted data has been transmitted without anydeformation, from the ECC value included in the received data. The BU235 ascertains whether there is a response with respect to his or herrequest communications with its own ID value (BU-ID) included in thereceived data. If all match, the BU 235 transmits corresponding data toa post-end processor and completes communications. If data to be updatedexists, the BU 235 sends the updating data signal to the MU 230 togetherwith a storage command ({circle over (5)}). Here, the updating datacorresponds to departure information of a fee payment system for asubway or a toll gate. The MU 230 ascertains whether the receivedupdating data and command signal has been transmitted without anydeformation, from the received ECC value included in the data (step260). The MU 230 ascertains whether there is a response with respect tohis or her request communications with its own ID value included in thereceived data (step 261). If it ascertained that his or her own ID valuedoes not exist in the received data, the MU 230 stands by a receptionfor a predetermined time (step 262). If a matching MU-ID value is notreceived even though a predetermined time elapses, the MU 230 returns tostep 251, to perform steps 251-262. If it is ascertained that his or herown ID value exists in the received data, the MU 230 stores thecorresponding updating data and transmits an acknowledge signal (ACK)with respect to the corresponding updating data ({circle over (6)})(step 263). Then, the MU 230 awaits about three seconds (step 264) andcompletes the program. Through these procedures, the communicationscomplete.

[0191] As described above, card information is stored in a portableterminal in place of a magnetic-type card such as a credit card, aprepaid card, and a banking card. In this case, if card information isstored in a portable terminal without any modification, there may be aconcern about an illegal reproduction of the card. In particular, in thecase that card information is directly input in a memory of a portableterminal, a person who developed a portable terminal may illegallyreproduce a portable terminal memory using specific equipment. Thus,card issuing authorities such as card companies or banks wish to avoidthat card information is stored in a portable terminal in the same formas that stored in a magnetic card. However, an encryption system using apersonal asymmetric key requires long calculation time in bankingtransactions performed by a plurality of unspecific people, which makescustomers more inconvenienced compared to a current system. Also, sincesymmetric keys input in a number of POS terminals are same in the casethat a symmetric key is used, key protection may be so much difficult.

[0192] Considering the above, a new IC card system has been developed,which is not however widely spread due to an infrastructure setup cost.Thus, the present invention uses a current system as it is and uses auser designating secret number as an encryption algorithm key in orderto increase a security, which will be described in detail with referenceto FIG. 27.

[0193]FIG. 27 is a flowchart view for explaining a security enhancementmethod in a settlement system using a card information containedportable terminal according to the present invention.

[0194] A customer fills in an application in order to use his or her ownportable terminal as a card, and applies it to a corresponding bankingauthority. In this case, a secret number of the card is additionallyfilled in the application (step 241). The banking authority examines theapplication and then after the application has been accepted, cardinformation such as a card number and a valid period is encrypted usinga secret number requested by the customer as an encryption key (step242). An encryption method uses an algorithm of a symmetric key patternwhich cannot be solved without knowing a card possessor's secret number.Accordingly, although internal card information is read from a portableterminal, the read card information cannot be used illegally. Here, onlypart of card information can be encrypted. The encrypted cardinformation is input in a portable terminal. For security, a interfacerlocated in the lower end of the portable terminal. According toselection of a user, information can be input in a portable terminal byusing a wireless network. Here, in the case that the secret number isencrypted in the form of an irreversible function, a security canfurther heightened. When a card substitute portable terminal issuedthrough the above process is used, a customer manipulates a keypad inthe portable terminal to input a settlement secret number and selects asettlement mode (step 243). At a settlement mode, a customer selects thekind of a card to be used and presses a transmission button. As aresult, the card information and secret number stored in the portableterminal are transmitted in the form of an infrared signal (step 244).An optical receiver connected to a POS terminal in a contract shopreceives the card information and secret number from the customer'sportable terminal and transmits the received result to the contract shopPOS terminal. Here, a distance between the portable terminal and theoptical receiver is a short distance within about one meter. Since alinearity is obtained by using light, it is not possible to illegallyrecord the information. The POS terminal operates a decoding algorithmwithout keeping a separate encryption key in custody, and decodes thecard information by using the received secret number (step 245).Thereafter, like the existing banking transaction systems, an approvalof the credit dealing is determined in a card company computer via a VANcompany (step 246). If the received secret number is incorrect, the cardinformation which is received and decoded is also incorrect. Thus, anapproval of the credit dealing is not made. In the case that a customerwishes to know his or her own card information at a portable terminalsettlement mode, he or she selects a card information ascertainmentmenu. Then, a decoding program operates in the portable terminal tothereby display information such as a card information and valid periodon a screen.

[0195] The optical payment settlement system can be applied to variousfields. For example, the optical payment system can be used in most offields where a fee information. The FIG. 28 system includes a creditcard inquiry machine 30 or 31 for transferring the received credit cardinformation and requesting an approval of a dealing, and a VAN companyserver 40 for applying an approval according to the received approvalrequest and notifying an approval or a disapproval to the credit cardinquiry machine 30 or 31. Here, the optical payment receiver 20 or 21 isconnected to the credit card inquiry machine 30 by cable (see FIGS. 15Aand 15B), is fabricated in the form of an adapter in which a card readeris installed and connected to the credit card inquiry machine 30 (seeFIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C), or can be incorporated in the credit cardinquiry machine 31 (see FIG. 14). The operation with respect to anoptical settlement in a general commerce system of FIG. 28 having theabove-described configuration will be described in detail with referenceto FIG. 29.

[0196]FIG. 29 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation withrespect to an optical settlement in a general commerce system of FIG.28. A customer purchases an article (step 271). In the case that thecustomer pays for the article, a settlement method is selected (step272). If the settlement is optically performed, the customer transmitscredit card information to an optical receiver incorporated in orconnected to a credit card inquiry machine 30 or 31 (step 273). That is,the customer makes a portable terminal to be used as an optical paymentunit 10 face an optical payment receiver 20 or 21, and then presses apredetermined button to transmit an optical signal indicating a dealingstart. Here, the optical signal indicating the dealing start istransmitted together with credit information including a name of acustomer and a credit card number. The optical payment receiver 20 or 21receives an optical signal containing credit information and thereceived optical signal to the credit card inquiry machine 30 or 31. Thecustomer ascertains whether the credit information has been normallyreceived (step 274). If not, the customer transmits the creditinformation again (step 273). If the credit information has beennormally received, a normal message is displayed on a screen of theportable terminal (step 275). Meanwhile, in the case that othersettlement unit is used other than light, an employee performs asettlement procedure with other settlement unit of the customer (step276). The credit card inquiry machine 30 or 31 checks the input creditinformation (step 277). That is, the credit card inquiry machine 30 or31 transmits the input credit information to the VAN company server 40to request an approval of a dealing. The VAN company server 40 appliesan approval to the corresponding card company 50 according to thereceived approval request. The card company having received the approvalapplication checks credit status and transmits an approval result to thecredit card inquiry machine 30 or 31. In the case that the approvalapplication is rejected the credit card inquiry machine 30 or 31performs the following steps including step 276 again, so that thedealing can be settled using other settlement unit. In the case that theapproval application is accepted, the credit card inquiry machine 30 or31 prints a sales slip and receives a settlement signature from thecustomer, to then deliver a customer's purchased article (step 278).

[0197]FIG. 30 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation in thecase that the settlement system of FIG. 28 is applied to a countercalculation-type restaurant.

[0198] A customer having had food at a restaurant selects a settlementmethod at a counter at the time of payment for the food price (step281). Here, the customer determines whether an optical paymentsettlement will be performed (step 282). In the case of an opticalpayment settlement, the customer makes an optical receiver attached in aportable terminal 10 being an optical payment unit face the opticalreceiver 20 or 21 and transmits card information stored in the portableterminal 10 in the form of an optical signal to perform the settlement(step 283). The optical receiver 20 or 21 is connected to a credit cardinquiry machine 30 installed on a counter by cable or an adapter, orincorporated in a credit card inquiry machine 31. The optical receiver20 or 21 receives the card information transmitted in the form of anoptical signal from the optical transmitter in the portable terminal 10being an optical payment transmitter, and sends a response signal withrespect to the received card information. The portable terminal 10 beingan optical payment transmitter receives the response signal sent fromthe optical payment receiver 20 or 21 at the end of the credit cardinquiry machine 30 or 31 and judges whether the transmitted cardinformation has been normally received (step 284). If the cardinformation has not been normally received, a message indicating anabnormal reception is displayed on a display of the portable terminal10, and repeatedly performs the following steps including step 283 inorder to re-transmit the card information. If the card information hasbeen normally received, a message indicating a normal reception isdisplayed on the display of the portable terminal 10 (step 285). Theoptical payment receiver 20 or 21 converts the received optical signalcard information into the form which can be recognized in the creditcard inquiry machine 30 or 31 and transmits the converted result. If thecustomer's settlement method is not an optical payment settlement instep 282, the settlement process is performed with other settlement unit(step 286). For example, if a settlement method is method of using amagnetic credit card, the card reader of the credit card inquiry machine30 or 31 or the card reader mounted on the optical receiver adapter 21reads a magnetic portion on the card to receive card information. Thecredit card inquiry machine 30 or 31 ascertains credit information withrespect to the card information transmitted from the optical paymentreceiver 20 or 21 or input via the card reader (step 287). That is, Thecredit card inquiry machine 30 or 31 requests for an approval to thecard company via the VAN company server 40. The card company server 50transmits a dealing approval or disapproval to the credit card inquirymachine 30 or 31 via the VAN company server 40 with respect to therequested card information. In the result of credit informationascertainment, if an approval of dealing is not accepted, the followingsteps including step 286 are repeatedly performed. If an approval isaccepted, an employee prints out a sales slip from the credit cardinquiry machine 30 or 31 and receives a customer's signature thereon, asettlement is completely finished (step 288).

[0199] If only credit information is transmitted using a portable phonein the above-described settlement system, only a signature of apurchaser performed on a sales slip becomes a subject identificationunit of the dealing action, according to a general practice in a presentcredit dealing. In particular, if a user should sign on a receipt everytime when a dealing action is done in a credit settlement for trafficfare related dealing action or a comparatively petty cash, the wholeexecution time of the dealing action is delayed. Thus, a commerceparticipant can be identified using a portable phone number.

[0200]FIG. 31 is a conceptual view of a settlement system adopting anoptical payment using a phone number as an ID (IDentification), and FIG.32 is a view showing a data flow of a settlement system adopting anoptical payment using a phone number as an ID (IDentification).

[0201] When credit information is stored in a portable terminal such asa portable phone or a PDA, the credit information corresponds to thephone number assigned to the terminal on a one-to-one basis and storedin the terminal. If a button input is done by the user for opticalpayment settlement, the portable terminal (MU) 10 transmits the phonenumber together with the stored credit information in the form of aninfrared signal. The optical receiver (BU) 20 receiving the phone numberextracts the credit information and the phone number from the receivedoptical signal. The optical receiver (BU) 20 transmits the extractedcredit information and phone number to the credit card inquiry machine30. The credit card inquiry machine 30 transmits the received creditinformation for authentication externally and keeps the phone number incustody. The card company 50 receives the credit information andapproves dealt particulars. If the dealt particulars have been approved,the credit card inquiry machine 30 prints out purchased particularstogether with the kept phone number on a receipt. Accordingly, atransaction subject is indicated as a phone number on the receipt.

[0202] In the optical payment settlement system using a phone number asan ID, a person concerned which performs dealings using a portableterminal selects a mobile communications company of his or her ownsubscribed terminal not a card company as a dealing authority, in orderto perform a dealings action, in the case of a vendor machine or atraffic fare related dealing action, which is a batch processingsettlement system without passing through an existing on-line approvalsystem, to thereby diversify selection of a credit dealing authority.

[0203] A phone number which can be used as an ID has been already storedin a portable terminal and the phone number is used on a one-to-onerelationship basis with respect to the portable terminal. If a userselects a mobile communications company as a credit dealing authority inthe case of a vendor machine or a traffic fare related dealing action,which is a batch processing settlement system, and performs a buttonmanipulation for optical payment settlement, the portable terminaltransmits the contained phone number together with an authentication keyin an infrared form. The optical receiver receiving the phone numbertogether with the authentication key identifies the authentication keyusing a decoding key and approves dealing particulars and keeps it incustody, if it is identified that the transmitted phone number is aspecific number input when the user subscribed in the communicationsnetwork, using the identified authentication key.

[0204]FIG. 33 is a configuration view showing a toll gate fee settlementsystem adopting an optical payment settlement system according to thepresent invention. The system shown in FIG. 33 includes controllers 100and 300 which are installed at a toll gate entrance side and a toll gateexit side, respectively and a business office computer 200. The entrancecontroller 100 includes a vehicle approach detector 102, a vehicledeparture detector 103, a vehicle classifier 106, a ticket issuingmachine 105, a vehicle lane controller 101. The entrance controller 100also includes a bidirectional optical transceiver 104 which can performboth transmission and reception operations. The exit controller 300includes a vehicle lane controller 301, a vehicle detector 302, a fixedamount ticket identifier 303, a receipt issuing machine 304, and aticket processor 305. The exit controller 300 also includes abidirectional optical transceiver 306 which can perform transmission andreception operations. The operation of the toll gate fee settlement inthe toll gate system having the above configuration will be described indetail with respect to FIGS. 34 and 35.

[0205] If a vehicle arrives at an access road of a departure toll gate,a driver or a passenger makes a portable optical payment transmitterface the optical transceiver 104 which is located at the side of theaccess road, and then presses a transmission button. The cardinformation stored in the optical payment transmitter is transmitted inthe form of an optical signal. The optical transceiver 104 receives thecard information transmitted from the optical payment transmitter. Theoptical transceiver 104 checks a signal format of the received cardinformation. In the case that the signal format is normal which meets apredetermined protocol, the card information is transmitted to thevehicle lane controller 101. The vehicle lane controller 101 adds one tothe number of standby vehicles (step 322), if a vehicle approach isdetected in the vehicle approach detector 102 (step 321). Then, thevehicle lane controller 101 ascertains whether the approaching vehicleis an optical payment information transmission vehicle (step 323). Ifthe approaching vehicle is an optical payment information transmissionvehicle, the vehicle lane controller 101 sends entrance related approachinformation in the form of an optical signal via the optical transceiver104 (step 324). The portable terminal being the optical paymenttransmitter records the entrance approach information transmitted fromthe optical transceiver 104 in a memory. The entrance approachinformation includes a current toll gate information, time informationand vehicle type information. The vehicle type is classified via thevehicle classifier 106. If the approaching vehicle is not an opticalpayment information transmission vehicle, the vehicle lane controller101 sends entrance approach information to the ticket issuing machine105 to make the ticket issuing machine issue a ticket containingentrance approach information (step 325). If the above procedure iscompleted, the vehicle lane controller 101 displays a signal approvingpassage of the vehicle and informs the passenger of a passage approval(step 326). The vehicle lane controller 101 subtracts one from thenumber of standby vehicles (step 328) if a vehicle departure is detectedin the vehicle departure detector 103 (step 327). The vehicle lanecontroller 101 transmits each vehicle entrance approach information to acorresponding business office computer 200.

[0206] If a vehicle having passed through a departure toll gate arrivesat an arrival toll gate, a driver or a passenger makes the portableoptical payment transmitter face the optical transceiver 306 which islocated at the toll gate access road, and then presses a transmissionbutton. The card information stored in the optical payment transmitteris transmitted in the form of an optical signal, and the entranceapproach information stored in the memory is transmitted in the form ofan optical signal. The optical transceiver 306 receives the cardinformation and the entrance approach information transmitted from theoptical payment transmitter. The optical transceiver 306 checks a signalformat of the information transmitted from the optical paymenttransmitter. In the case that the signal format is normal, the opticaltransceiver 306 transmits the received information to the vehicle lanecontroller 301. The vehicle lane controller 301 adds one to the numberof standby vehicles (step 332), if a vehicle approach is detected in thevehicle approach detector 302 (step 331). Then, the vehicle lanecontroller 301 ascertains whether the approaching vehicle is an opticalpayment information transmission vehicle (step 333). If the approachingvehicle is an optical payment information transmission vehicle, thevehicle lane controller 301 calculates a passage fee as much as acorresponding passage interval based on the transmitted information, andlevies a passage fee in linkage with the card information (step 334).The vehicle lane controller 301 records the transaction particulars in amemory of the optical transceiver 306 and simultaneously transmits thetransaction particulars to the optical payment-transmitter so that acumulative settlement amount is stored (step 335). The transactionparticulars is transmitted to the business office computer 200 and thenbe recorded therein. Meanwhile, if the approaching vehicle is not anoptical payment information transmission vehicle, the ticket processor305 receives from the driver the ticket issued at a departure toll gateand levies a toll gate passage fee in cash or a fixed amount ticket(step 336). In the case that the toll gate passage fee is paid in thefixed amount ticket, a corresponding fee is settled via the fixed amountticket identifier 303 and then the difference is recorded and displayedthereon and returned. After a fee is levied through the above procedure,a receipt is issued via the receipt issuance machine 304. If a passagefee is settled, the vehicle lane controller 301 displays a passageapproval (step 337). The vehicle lane controller 301 subtracts one fromthe number of the standby vehicles (step 339), if a vehicle approach isdetected in the vehicle detector 302 (step 338).

[0207] The business office computer 200 checks whether the transactionparticulars recorded with respect to the approaching and departingvehicles are congruous with the transaction particulars recorded in theoptical transceivers 104 and 306 attached to the toll gates by everypoint of time. If two recorded transaction particulars are congruouswith each other, the business office computer 200 clears the records ofthe optical transceivers 104 and 306, and transmits the transactionparticulars to a collection server (not shown). Here, the collectionserver is a central server for centrally controlling respective businessoffice computers connected to each other. The collection server checksif the transaction particulars recorded in the business office computer200 are congruous with the collected data and transmits the collecteddata in a bundle to a card company server only when the former iscongruous with the latter. Then, the recorded data in the businessoffice computer 200 is cleared.

[0208]FIG. 36 is a configuration view showing a drive-thru order systemadopting an optical payment settlement system according to the presentinvention. The system shown in FIG. 36 further includes an opticalreceiver 344 which is attached at a proper position on an order itemsdisplay board 343 of an existing system, for receiving card informationin the form of an optical signal. Here, customers riding in a vehicleuse an optical payment unit such as a portable phone containing a creditcard in which an optical transmitter transmitting the card informationin the form of an optical signal is attached.

[0209]FIG. 37 is a configuration view showing an optical paymentsettlement system in the FIG. 36 system. The system shown in FIG. 37includes a portable phone 10 containing card information andtransmitting the card information in the form of an optical signal as anoptical payment unit, an optical receiver 344 attached to the orderitems display board 343, for receiving the card information in the formof an optical signal, and a card inquiry machine or POS (point of sales)terminal 60 connected to the optical receiver 344, for receiving thetransmitted card information and ascertaining a transaction approval. Itis possible to use any portable article in addition to the portablephone 10, as an optical payment unit. Here, the order items displayboard 343 and the optical receiver 344 attached card inquiry machine orPOS terminal 60 are installed in a store. The optical receiver 344 andthe card inquiry machine 60 are connected each other by cable or with anadapter. The FIG. 37 system includes a VAN company server 40 whichtransmits the transaction approval requested card information to thecard company server 50 being a settlement authority and transmits theapproval or disapproval result to the card inquiry machine or POSterminal 60.

[0210] The operation of the optical payment settlement system in thedrive-thru ordering system having the above configuration will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 38 and 39, as well as FIG.36.

[0211] A customer stops a vehicle at an order reception stand 340A (step371). Then, the customer sees a menu plate 341 installed at the orderreception stand 340A and orders a commodity to be purchased at the statewhere the customer gets in the vehicle (step 372). A clerk receivingorders inputs order data in the POS 60. The input data is output on ascreen which can be seen by a clerk who selects the commodity so thatthe clerk takes out ad pays the customer's ordered commodity. If anorder is completed, the customer determines whether or not the commoditypayment is done by an optical payment settlement (step 373). In the casethat an optical payment settlement is done, the customer identifies theitem-by-item order particulars with the payment settlement amount, whichare displayed on the order items display board 343 installed at theorder reception stand 340A (step 374), to thereby perform an opticalpayment settlement. Here, the customer can settle the payment withoutopening a window of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 38, the order itemsdisplay board 343 indicates a commodity name, a quantity, an amount anda sum total. Also, the optical receiver 344 is attached on anappropriate place of the order items display board 343, for example, onthe upper-right side thereof. Thus, the customer identifies the orderparticulars with the payment settlement amount, which are displayed onthe order items display board 343 and then makes the optical transmitterattached on the portable phone 10 being an optical payment unit face theoptical receiver 344, to thereby transmit the card information containedin the portable phone 10 in the form of an optical signal and perform anoptical payment settlement. The optical receiver 344 attached on theorder items display board 343 is optically receives the optical signalcard information transmitted from the portable phone 10 which is thecustomer optical payment unit. The optical receiver 344 converts thereceived optical signal card information into the form which can berecognized at the card inquiry machine or POS terminal 60 and transmitsthe converted result. The card inquiry machine or POS terminal 60requests for approval to the card company via the VAN company server 40with respect to the card information transmitted from the opticalreceiver 344. The card company server 50 transmits a transactionapproval or disapproval result with respect to the requested cardinformation to the card inquiry machine or POS terminal 60 which hasrequested a transaction approval via the VAN company server 40. Duringawaiting an approval, the customer drives the vehicle and moves acommodity withdrawal stand 340B (step 375). At step 373, if a customersettlement method is not an optical payment settlement, the customerdrives the vehicle and moves to the commodity withdrawal stand 340Bimmediately after a commodity is ordered (step 376). It is checkedwhether a credit card settlement is approved in the case of an opticalpayment settlement at the state where the vehicle stops at the commoditywithdrawal stand 340B (step 377). After the card settlement has beenapproved in the result of checking in step 377, the customer receivesthe ordered commodity and a card receipt from the clerk (step 378) andthen departs (step 381). If the card settlement is not approved or asettlement method is not an optical payment settlement, the settlementis done in cash as in the conventional case (step 379). After thesettlement is done in cash, the customer receives an ordered commodityfrom the clerk (step 380) and then departs (step 381).

[0212] As described above, in the case that the drive-thru orderingsystem adopts an optical payment settlement system, payment informationis transmitted at the same time when an order is sent, and thus all thesettlements for payment of the commodity are completed, thereby sharplyincreasing a sales amount per time.

[0213]FIG. 40 is a configuration view showing a gas station feecollection system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention. The system shown in FIG. 40 includesa mobile optical relayer 180 and an optical relayer base unit 190, inwhich the portable mobile optical relayer 180 held by a gas filleroperator receives payment information, and the gas filler operator makesthe optical relayer 180 connected to the optical relayer base unit 190in order to input payment information into a card inquiry machine or POSterminal 60 and make a transaction approval and settlement accomplished.The operation of the optical payment settlement system in the gasstation fee collection system having the above configuration will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 41.

[0214] At a gas station, an operator informs a customer that a fuel iscompletely filled and asks a settlement method of him or her. Then, thecustomer selects a settlement method after filing (step 391). Theoperator ascertains whether the customer's desired settlement method isan optical payment settlement method (step 392). In the case that thecustomer desires an optical payment, the operator inputs a settlementamount into a mobile optical relayer 180 and presents the settlementamount entered mobile optical relayer 180 to the customer (step 393).The customer ascertains the settlement amount displayed on the mobileoptical relayer 180 presented by the operator at the state where thecustomer gets in the car, and transmits credit information to the mobileoptical relayer 180, by means of a portable phone 10 which is his or herown optical payment unit (step 394). The mobile optical relayer 180ascertains whether an optical signal has successfully arrived from theportable phone (step 395). If the optical signal arrives at the mobileoptical relayer normally, the credit information included in the opticalsignal is temporarily stored in the mobile optical relayer 180. In thecase that an optical signal does not reach normally or the reachedoptical signal is abnormal so as not to read credit informationnormally, the operator requests that credit information should bere-transmitted to the mobile optical relayer. Here, it is natural thatan optical receiver be attached in a portable phone 10 which is anoptical payment unit so that the mobile optical relayer 180 requeststhat credit information be retransmitted to the portable phone 10automatically, through automatic optical communications between theportable phone 10 and the mobile optical relayer 180. After receivingthe credit information, the operator takes the mobile optical relayer180 to an optical relayer base unit 190 in order to transmit the creditinformation to the optical relayer base unit 190 (step 396). This methodcan be largely embodied into two. First, the mobile optical relayer 180is so mounted that the connector of the mobile optical relayer 180contacts the connector of the optical relayer base unit 190. Second, themobile optical relayer 180 transmits an optical signal including creditinformation to the optical receiver in the optical relayer base unit190. Here, the mobile optical relayer 180 transmits corresponding creditinformation to the optical relayer base unit 190 only one time. In thecase that a customer desires to pay for in cash or other settlementmethods other than an optical payment at step 392, a settlementprocedure proceeds depending upon the customer's desired settlementmethod (step 397). That is, a customer hands over his or her ownmagnetic card to an operator, and then the operator processes asettlement using a card reader in a credit card inquiry machine or POSterminal 60 installed in a settlement place. In the case that a magneticinterface card is attached to the mobile optical relayer 180 held by theoperator, the magnetic credit card is read using the magnetic interfacecard without using a card reader in the credit card inquiry machine orPOS terminal 60 and then the read card information is temporarily storedto then be the optical relayer base unit 190. The optical relayer baseunit 190 having received the credit information from the mobile opticalrelayer 180 transmits the corresponding credit information to the creditcard inquiry machine or POS terminal 60. The credit card inquiry machineor POS terminal 60 the credit information to the VAN or card company 40or 50 to ascertain whether the transaction is approved (step 398). Ifthe transaction is approved from the VAN or card company 40 or 50, theoptical relayer base unit 190 prints transaction particulars with aprinter and outputs the printed result, and the operator hands over theprinted receipt to the corresponding customer to make him or her checkthe transaction particulars (step 399). If the transaction is notapproved from the VAN or card company due to a poor credit or an excesslimit, the optical relayer base unit 190 outputs an error signal andmakes another settlement unit perform a settlement as in step 397.

[0215] Here, in the case that an optical receiver is mounted in thecredit card inquiry machine or POS terminal 60, the mobile opticalrelayer 180 directly transmits customer's credit information to thecredit card inquiry machine or POS terminal 60 which is not the opticalrelayer base unit 190, in the form of an optical signal to therebyperform an optical payment.

[0216] Also, in the case of a bonus card issued in order to assign abonus point depending upon an amount of fuel filled and pay for acommodity according to a cumulated points, a card number is contained ina portable phone, so as to be transmitted in the form of an opticalsignal. The POS terminal 60 transmits points depending upon the inputbonus card number and the amount of fuel filled to a corresponding oilrefinery company 70. The oil refinery company 70 cumulates a newlygenerated point to the points cumulated in the corresponding card numberand transmits the cumulated points to the POS terminal 60 again, tothereby make the customer identify how many total points are his or herown bonus points.

[0217] In the case that an optical payment settlement method is used inthe above-described gas station fee levying system, the customer cansettle the cost incurred instantly without moving to the credit cardinquiry machine or POS terminal 60 and needing to hand over a creditcard to an operator.

[0218]FIG. 42 is a configuration view showing a department storesettlement system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention. The department store settlementsystem shown in FIG. 42 is configured to have the substantially sameconfiguration as that of the gas station fee levying system shown inFIG. 40. However, a POS terminal 60 is not directly connected to a VANcompany 40 but is connected to the VAN company 40 via a department storeserver 80.

[0219] A customer transmits payment information in the form of anoptical signal to a mobile optical relayer 180 held by a departmentstore clerk during purchasing an article and performs a settlement ofthe cost incurred. The department store clerk transmits the paymentinformation received in the optical relayer 180 to the credit cardinquiry machine or POS terminal 60 via the optical receiver incorporatedin or externally mounted on the credit card inquiry machine or POSterminal 60, or the credit card inquiry machine or POS terminal 60 viathe optical relayer base unit 190. The credit card inquiry machine orPOS terminal 60 sends the transmitted credit information to the VAN orcard company 40 or 50 via the department store server 80, to therebyidentify a transaction approval or disapproval. If the transaction isapproved from the VAN or card company 40 or 50, the optical relayer baseunit 190 prints transaction particulars with a printer and outputs theprinted result, and the department store clerk hands over the printedreceipt to the corresponding customer to make him or her check thetransaction particulars. Here, in the case that payment information iscard information of a card issued from a department store, a departmentstore server 80 itself determines a transaction approval or disapprovalin consideration of personal credit information, an installment approvalor disapproval, and a settlement amount.

[0220] As described above, the optical settlement system including themobile optical relayer and the optical relayer base unit can be appliedto a customer table calculation restaurant. In this case, a clerk uses aclip-type mobile optical relayer as shown in FIG. 20.

[0221] Also, the present invention can be applied to an unmanned vendingmachine installed in a building or on the street, to thereby make a useruse the vending machine although he or she does not have a coin or smallpetty cash.

[0222]FIG. 43 is a configuration view showing an unmanned automaticvending system adopting an optical payment settlement system accordingto the present invention. The system shown in FIG. 43 includes aportable terminal (MU) 410, and an automatic vending machine 420including an optical transceiver 421 in order to receive optical paymentinformation of the portable terminal 410. The automatic vending machine420 also includes a controller 422 for controlling the operation ofproduct sales and a recorder 423 for recording particulars of sales. Thedetailed configuration of the automatic vending machine 420 is shown inFIG. 44. The FIG. 43 system includes a totalization device 412 fortotalling sale particulars recorded in the recorder 423 in automaticvending machines 420 which are discretely disposed in mutually differentplaces, and a transmission terminal 414 for transmitting the totalizedsales particulars to the VAN company 416 or card company 418 to beprocessed for approval in bulk. The operation of settlement of theexpenses in the unmanned automatic vending system having the aboveconfiguration will be described below with reference to FIG. 45.

[0223] A customer pays for products purchased (step 431). In the case ofa coffee automatic vending machine, a customer pays for drinks of thekind to be desired. In the case of a cash payment, the customer inputs acorresponding amount of cash into a cash inlet 424 in the automaticvending machine 420. In the case of an optical payment, card informationis optically transmitted via the portable terminal 40. The opticaltransceiver 421 in the automatic vending machine 420 receives an opticalsignal including the card information, and transmits the receivedoptical signal to a controller 422. The controller 422 checks if apayment is an optical payment settlement (step 432). In the case of theoptical payment settlement, it is checked if the received correspondingcard information is significant information (step 433). It isascertained of its own power without passing through a card company 418whether the card information is significant. That is, the controller 422stores for registration poor transaction card information, named as cardinformation corresponding to a blacklist and simply ascertains whetherthe received card information is included in the previously registeredpoor transaction card information, to thereby identify a validity of thecard. Through such a simple identification, each automatic vendingmachine does not need to install a particular dedicated line to performa credit card information inquiry and a transaction approval by the cardcompany 418 or the VAN company 416, to thereby make an installation costlow. Also, the poor trade or blacklist is periodically updated tothereby secure safety of transactions. Of course, a blacklist isregistered in the corresponding portable terminal 410 so that paymentinformation need not be transmitted optically in the portable terminal410, in which case it need not be identified whether card information isvalid. The registration of the poor traders will be described later. Ifa payment is not an optical payment settlement in step 432, it is judgedwhether an amount of money more than a corresponding price of thepurchased product is input into the cash inlet 424 (step 434). If thecorresponding card information is valid information in step 433 or theinput money is more than the corresponding product price in step 434,the controller 422 displays a product withdrawal approval signal on aproduct selector 426 (step 435). The customer selects a desired productwhich is displayed for approval of withdrawal on the product selector426. The controller 422 discharges the selected product (step 436). Forexample, in the case that a customer selects a cup of “milk coffee,” thecontroller 422 controls a coffee motor driver 429A, a sugar motor driver429B and a milk motor driver 429C to be driven, and discharge a cup ofmilk coffee mixed with coffee, sugar and milk through a cup outlet 428.In the case of a cash payment, the controller 422 calculates change anddischarges a corresponding amount of money via a money refunder 427. Ifa customer cancels a purchase of product via a refund requester 427, thecontroller 422 refunds the input money via the refunder 427. If thecustomer receives the discharged product, the controller 422 checksagain if a payment is an optical payment settlement (step 437). In thecase of an optical payment, the sales particulars are recorded in therecorder 423 (step 438).

[0224] Meanwhile, an operator of the automatic vending machine 420 goesto the places where the automatic vending machines 420 are installedwith the totalization device 412 every interval of period, to collectparticulars of sales in sum. That is, the sale particulars recorded inthe recorder 423 are downloaded into the totalization device 412 via theoptical transceiver 421 in the automatic vending machine 420. Theoperator collects all the sales particulars with respect to theautomatic vending machines which are distributively located in variousplaces, and then makes the totalization device 412 connected with atransfer terminal 414 to then be transmitted to the server of the VANcompany 416 for approval in bulk. The server of the VAN company 416transmits the bulk-approval-requested sales particulars to the server ofthe corresponding card company 418. Here, the totalization device 412and the transfer terminal 414 will be described below.

[0225]FIG. 46 is a configuration view showing a kiosk fee payment systemadopting an optical payment settlement system according to the presentinvention.

[0226] A portable terminal 410 is a portable phone or portable personaldevice containing card information such as a credit card, an advancepayment card and a direct payment card, which can transmit user's cardinformation in the form of an optical signal.

[0227] A kiosk 440 receives an optical signal from the portable terminal410, extracts card information from the received optical signal andissues a user's desired document. The kiosk 440 stores transactiondetails and then transmits the stored transaction details to atotalization server 450 through a phone call connection in accordancewith an operator's manipulation. The totalization server 450 transmitsthe totalized transaction details to a card company 418 in a package.

[0228] The server 418 of the card company 418 remits a correspondingdealing amount into an operator's account of a designated kiosk if adealing details of a kiosk is received, and charges for a dealing amountto a card user.

[0229]FIG. 47 is a detailed block diagram showing the kiosk 440 of FIG.46, which shows an example of issuance of a certificate. A certificateissuance system shown in FIG. 47 includes an input portion 444 forinputting personal information necessary for issuance of certificates, adisplay 445 for displaying screen information thereon, thereby enablinga user to conform his or her desired information, and a fee processor446 for processing a fee with respect to the issued certificate. The feeprocessor 446 includes a coin/bill recognizer 447 for recognizing anamount of input coins or bills, a sum display 448 for displaying therecognized amount, and a coin/bill collecting box 449 for collecting theinput coins or bills. The fee processor 446 also includes an opticalreceiver 441 for receiving an optical signal including card informationfrom the portable terminal 410 being an optical payment unit, and atransaction details storage device 443 for storing transaction details.The certificate issuance system of FIG. 47 also includes a main computer451 having the contents which are contained in an issuable certificate,and a controller 442 for controlling the whole operation of eachelement, and a certificate printer 452 for printing a user's desiredcertificate and issuing the same under the control of the controller442. A collective material printer 453 prints transaction details andissues the same to a user as a receipt. The operation of a fee paymentin a self-service automatic certificate issuance system having theabove-described configuration will be described in detail, withreference to FIG. 48.

[0230] The controller 442 displays a menu including possible serviceswhich can be provided on the display 445, to thereby let a customer toselect his or her desired service (step 461). The customer sees thecontents of the menu displayed on the display 445 and selects his or herdesired service. If a service is selected via the input portion 444, thecontroller 442 displays a fee on the display 445 so that a customer topay for a corresponding fee (step 462). Here, the controller 442confirms whether an optical payment settlement is displayed on thedisplay 445 (step 463). The customer confirms an amount displayed on thedisplay 445 and then pays for the amount of fees in his or her desiredsettlement method. In the case of an optical payment settlement, thecustomer makes the portable terminal 410 used as an optical payment unitface the optical receiver 441 in the fee processor 446, and thentransmits card information in the form of an optical signal (step 464).The optical receiver 441 in the fee processor 446 extracts cardinformation from the received optical signal and transmits the extractedresult to the controller 442. The controller 442 confirms whether thereceived corresponding card information is significant information (step465). If the card information is not significant information, thecontroller 442 notifies the customer that the card information is notsignificant information and lets the customer to pay for it in cash(step 466). If the card information is significant, the controller 442displays normal indication on the display 445 and receives necessarypersonal information such as an identification via the input portion 444(step 467). The controller 442 stores the transaction details in thetransaction details storage unit 443 (step 468). Here, the transactiondetails includes service items, fees, issuance dates, and so on. If thepayment is not an optical payment settlement in step 463, the customerpays for the fee in cash (step 466). In the case that the fee has beenpaid for in an optical payment or cash, the controller 442 loadsnecessary information from the main computer 441 based on the inputinformation, prints a certificate via the certificate printer 452 andissues the printed certificate to the customer (step 469).

[0231] As described above, the transaction details collected in thetransaction details storage unit 443 are transmitted to a totalizationserver 450 at a certain point in time. That is, the stored transactiondetails are transmitted by manipulation of an operator of the kiosk 440.The totalization server 450 compares the transmitted transaction detailswith those stored in the transaction details storage unit 443, andtransmits the transaction details to the card company 418 in packageonly if both the transaction details equal each other, to then clear allthe transaction details of the transaction details storage unit 443.Here, the kiosks are distributively disposed in various places andconnected via a computer network. Thus, the main computer 451 managingthe kiosks in entirety plays a role of the totalization server 450. Thecard company having received the transaction details remits an amount ofmoney based on the corresponding transaction details to a bank accountof the operator of the predetermined kiosk 440 and sends a debit note tothe customer.

[0232] In the case that a settlement on credit cannot be performed on areal-time basis as in an automatic vending machine or kiosk, a mobilecollection device is needed, in which the collected credit informationis totally calculated, to thereby enable the customer to move to a placewhich can settle the payment on credit. The present invention provides amobile collection device using a PDA or memory pack.

[0233]FIG. 49A is a block diagram showing an automatic vending systemadopting a mobile collection device using a PDA. FIG. 49B shows anexample of the PDA applied in the FIG. 49A system.

[0234] An optical payment receiver 471 installed in an automatic vendingsystem monitors a vending machine controller 470 via an intermediatefrequency (I/F) portion 477. Whenever a transaction item occurs in theresult of monitoring, a CPU 475 detects the transaction item and recordsthe same in an internal memory 476. Meanwhile, a PDA illustrated in FIG.49B includes an attached infrared (Ir) transceiver 481 and communicateswith an optical payment receiver 471 in the automatic vending systemusing an infrared ray. An operator of the automatic vending systemmanipulates a menu key on the PDA 480 to activate a transaction detailscollection program, and then directs the Ir transceiver 481 to acollection object machine to then transmit a collection command in theform of an infrared ray. The received collection command is convertedinto a signal which can be recognized by the CPU 475 via an Ir converter473 and a UART 474, to thereby control a CPU 475. The CPU 475 readstransaction details data recorded in the internal memory 476 accordingto the collection command and outputs the read result to the Irtransceiver 472 via the UART 474 and the Ir converter 473. The Irtransceiver 472 transmits the input transaction details data in the formof an infrared ray. The Ir transceiver 481 of the PDA 480 receives theinfrared signal of the transaction details transmitted from the opticalpayment receiver 471 in the automatic vending system. The receivedtransaction details arrive at the CPU 484 via the Ir converter 482 andthe UART 483, and recorded in the internal memory 485. The CPU 485checks whether or not data is successfully received and displays thechecked result on a LCD 486, to thereby let the operator monitor thecollection status. If transaction details are totalized in the PDA 480,the transaction details, the totalized transaction details aretransmitted to a PC via an Ir port or a serial port 487, to a centralcollection center using transmission sale management software, or acentral collection device using a separate communications unit such as aportable phone, a base unit, etc.

[0235]FIG. 50A is a block diagram showing a mobile collection deviceusing a memory pack. FIG. 50B shows a connection state of the memorypack of FIG. 50A.

[0236] An optical payment receiver 471 installed in an automatic vendingsystem monitors a vending machine controller 470 via an intermediatefrequency (I/F) portion 477. Whenever a transaction item occurs in theresult of monitoring, a CPU 475 detects the transaction item and recordsthe same in an internal memory 476. A memory pack 488 for collectingtransaction details is a non-volatile memory NVRAM, and is connected toa UART 474 in the optical payment receiver 471 via a memory connector479 as shown in FIG. 50B. In order to totalize the transaction details,an operator of the automatic vending system inserts the memory pack 488into the memory connector 479. The UART 474 having detected a connectionstate of the memory pack 488 notifies the CPU 475 of the memory packconnection state. The CPU 475 reads the transaction details recorded ina memory 476 according to the notification of the UART 474 and recordsthe read result in the memory pack 488 connected via the UART 474. Ifthe transaction details are totalized in the memory pack 488, theoperator detaches the memory pack 488 from the optical payment receiver471 and transmits the memory pack 488 to a corresponding settlementauthority (a card company or bank).

[0237] In the case of the above mobile collection device, anadministrator disposed in a system installation place totalizestransaction details and collects the totalized PDA or memory pack, tothen be directly carried to a settlement authority. Thus, the presentinvention provides a transfer terminal which can transfer transactiondetails data collected via a modem.

[0238]FIG. 51A is a block diagram showing an automatic vending systemadopting a power line modem connection device. FIG. 51B shows connectionstates of the automatic vendors applied in the FIG. 51A system in abuilding.

[0239] When each of devices included in an automatic vending system isinstalled in each floor in a building having a plurality of floors, apower line in the building provides a closed circuit. That is, as shownin FIG. SIB, a power line modem 495 is connected to a power source to beconnected to a power line of each vending machine 490(1), . . . , 490(N)installed in each floor. Thus, sales information generated in thevending machine 490(1), . . . , 490(N) installed in each floor istemporarily stored in an internal memory of an optical payment receiver(BU) 491 installed in the corresponding vending machine 490(1), . . . ,490(N). The stored sales information is modulated in a converter 492 inorder to be transmitted via the power line and loaded into the powerline 494 while passing through a power line mixer 493. Here, the powerline mixer 493 ascertains whether a transmission exists via other powerline mixers. When there is no transmission, a power line is used.Accordingly, there is no mixture or collision during transmission. Also,the vending machines 490(1), . . . , 490(N) installed in other floorsload sales information into a power line via the same procedure as theabove. A power line modem 495 connected to a separate power sourceordinarily monitors whether information is loaded in a power line. Wheninformation is recognized in the result of monitoring, a separator 496in the power line modem 495 starts to operate and transmits salesinformation to a central server via a phone line 498 or an antenna 499through a modem 497. Thus, the sales information of the vending machines490(1), . . . , 490(N) is transmitted to the central server in real-timeor in a package processing method.

[0240]FIG. 52A is a block diagram showing a mobile communications modemincorporated transmission terminal. FIG. 52B shows an externalappearance of the FIG. 52A mobile communications modem incorporatedtransmission terminal. The terminal is configured to wirelessly transmittransaction details data collected through the connection to acollection device shown in FIGS. 49A, 49B, 50A and 50B.

[0241] An administrator who processes transaction details in a packagemanipulates a keypad 505 of a transmission terminal 500 shown in FIG.52B and sets the transmission terminal into an account mode. Theadministrator makes the transmission terminal 500 set as the accountmode positioned in the proximity of a collector which is an accountobject, and communications are performed between the transmissionterminal and the collector. The administrator can connect the collectorby port with the transmission terminal 500 via a serial interface unit501. The transmission terminal 500 receives the collected transactiondetails from the collector (not shown) which is an account object in theform of an infrared signal in a package via an infrared interface unit502. In the case of a connection by port, the transmission terminal 500receives transaction details data via the serial interface unit 501. Amicroprocessor 503 temporarily stores transaction details data input viathe infrared interface unit 502 or the serial interface unit 501 in aninternal memory 504. Then, the microprocessor 503 transmits the storedtransaction details data to a central server (not shown) via atransceiver 507 wirelessly. The microprocessor 503 displays thetransmission result on a display 506 to thereby allow the administratorto recognize the communications service state.

[0242] In the case of the above-described power line modem connectiondevice or mobile communications modem incorporated terminal, a systemshould be newly constructed. Thus, a portable phone connection device isprovided so that transaction details data can be transmitted via aportable phone which is mostly and widely possessed by people.

[0243]FIG. 53A is a block diagram showing an automatic vending systemadopting a portable phone connection device. FIG. 53B shows an exampleof connection of the portable phone to the vending system.

[0244] As shown in FIG. 53B, a vending machine controller 470 isattached in the inside of the front cover in the vending machine and aportable phone connection device 510 is attached below the vendingmachine controller 470. A cable connector 515 is provided in theportable phone connection device 510, to be connected to the externalconnection port 517 of a portable phone 518 via a cable 516. When theportable phone 517 is connected to the cable connection device 515 inthe portable phone connection device 510, the portable phone connectionis notified to a CPU 512 via a UART 514. The CPU 512 monitors a vendingmachine controller 470 via an I/F portion 511. If a transaction item isdetected, the CPU 512 receives the transaction details ad stores thesame in a memory 513. If a portable phone connection is notified to theCPU 512 via the UART 514, the CPU 512 makes a phone call through theportable phone 518 by a preset connection number and transmits thetransaction details data stored in the memory 513. If the transactiondetails data is successfully transmitted to the called party, the CPU512 deletes the recorded contents stored in the memory 513. Here, theset phone number is a number which can be connected to a central serverin a corresponding settlement authority such as a card company or bank.

[0245] By the way, in the case that a portable phone is used asdescribed above, the present invention cannot be applied to an automaticvending machine which is installed in a place out of service. Thus, thepresent invention provides an Internet connection device which cantransmit transaction details via the Internet having no regionallimitation.

[0246]FIG. 54A is a block diagram showing an Internet accessible device.FIG. 54B shows an external connection state with respect to a PC.Referring to FIG. 54B, an Internet connection device 520 is connected toan Internet accessible PC 526 by cable. The Internet connection device520 includes a memory connector 521 which can be connected to a PDA 480or a memory pack 488, which is a mobile collection device, and aninfrared I/F portion 522 which receives the collected transactiondetails data by infrared communications.

[0247] An administrator connects a PC 26 to a connection device 520 bycable. The mobile collection device shown in FIGS. 49A, 49B, 50A and 50Bwith a memory connector 521. The memory connector 521 recognizes thetransaction details data collected in the memory 488 installed in themobile collection device, and transmits the recognized transactiondetails data to a CPU 524 via the UART 523. The connection device 520can receive the transaction details data via infrared communicationswithout having no connection with the mobile collection device. That is,an infrared I/F portion 522 in the connection device 520 recognizes thetransaction details data in the infrared ray form and transmits therecognized result to the CPU 524 via the UART 523. The CPU 524 transmitsthe received data to the PC 526 connected to a serial port 525 via theUART 523. The PC 526 transmits the transaction details data transmittedfrom the connection device 520 to a central server 527, at the statewhere the PC 526 accesses the central server 527 in a correspondingsettlement authority via the Internet. After transferring thetransaction details data, the CPU 524 transmits a command to delete therecording contents from a memory 488 in the connected mobile collectiondevice if data is successfully transmitted. Since the memory recordingcontents are cleared whenever the collected transaction details data istransmitted to the central server 527 normally, a memory capacity is notmuch occupied.

[0248] In the case of a place where the Internet is not supplied, adial-up VAN connection device is provided so that transaction detailsdata can be transmitted via a phone line.

[0249]FIG. 55A is a block diagram showing a dial-up VAN accessibledevice. FIG. 55B shows an external connection state of the FIG. 55Adial-up VAN accessible device. Referring to FIG. 55B, a phone line isconnected to one side of a connection device 530 fabricated in the formof a box, and a plurality of coupling holes are provided on the otherside of the connection device 530, so as connect with a plurality ofmemory packs each being a mobile collection device. Also, a LED isprovided in correspondence to each coupling hole, so that a currentprocessing state can be checked by each memory pack.

[0250] An administrator connects the memory packs 488 in the mobilecollection device to be processed with each coupling hole in theconnection device 530 connected to the phone line. Transaction detailsdata collected from a vending machine installed in a respectivelydifferent place is recorded in each memory pack 488. The CPU 532transmits the data to a modem 533 via a UART 531 and loads it in thephone line to then be transmitted to a central server 527. Aftertransferring the transaction details data, the CPU 532 deletes therecording contents of the processed memory pack 488 if data issuccessfully transmitted.

[0251] When the above-described transfer terminal is used, the opticalpayment settlement method according to the present invention can beapplied to a bus or taxi fare automatic collection system.

[0252]FIG. 56 is a configuration view showing a bus/taxi fare automaticcollection system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention. A system shown in FIG. 56 includes aportable terminal (MU) 540 which is an optical payment unit and a RFterminal 550 for collecting a fare. The RF terminal 550 includes anoptical transceiver 551 for receiving and transmitting optical paymentinformation, a controller for controlling the operation of levying afare, and a recorder 553 for recording levying details. The recorder 533is fabricated separately in the form of a pack. The detailed structureof the RF terminal 550 is shown in FIG. 57. The FIG. 56 system includesa transfer terminal 542 connected to the recorder 553, for transferringthe levying details to a card company server 548 via a VAN companyserver 546. Here, the transfer terminal 542 uses an Internet connectiondevice or the dial-up VAN connection device shown in FIG. 54 or 55.

[0253] A customer riding a bus or taxi pays for a fare. In the case ofan optical payment, the customer uses the portable terminal 540 which isan optical payment unit and transmits optical payment information towardthe optical transceiver 551 in the RF terminal 550. The opticaltransceiver 551 receives the optical payment information transmittedfrom the customer's portable terminal 540 having ridden the bus or taxiand transmits the received optical payment information to the controller552. In the case of a payment of an existing plastic card or an IC cardsuch as a traffic card which does not adopt an optical payment method, acustomer contacts a corresponding card to a RF card communicationsmodule 554 to transfer card information in the form of radio frequency.The RF card communications module 554 receives the transmitted RF cardinformation and transmits the received card information to thecontroller 552. The controller 552 checks whether the received cardinformation is valid. If card information is RF card information, thecontroller 552 checks a black list (B/L) stored in a B/L data storagemodule 555, and checks whether the card information is valid. If cardinformation is valid, the controller 552 displays the levying fare andthe remainder of the card on a display 557 via a user interface module556. Meanwhile, in the case of an optical payment, the controller 552need not check a black list separately. In the optical paymentsettlement system, the portable terminal which is a correspondingoptical payment unit checks a black list. In the optical paymentsettlement system, the controller 552 displays the levying fare and thecumulative amount on the display 557 via the user interface module 556.In addition, the controller records the levying details such as thecorresponding card information and amount in the recorder 553.

[0254] In order to read the above-described recorded information, anadministrator visits a place where the transfer terminal 542 isinstalled and separates the recorder 553 from the RF terminal 550, tothereby connect the separated recorder with the transfer terminal 542.The transfer terminal 542 reads the levying details from the connectedrecorder 553 and transmits the read result to the VAN company server546. The VAN company server 546 transmits the received levying detailsto the corresponding card company server 548.

[0255] Meanwhile, in the case of a subway, toll gate or kiosk, there isprovided a system central server, which plays a role of a collectiondevice or transfer terminal without adopting an additional collectiondevice or transfer terminal. Here, a case using the central server willbe described below.

[0256]FIG. 58 is a configuration view showing a subway fare automaticcollection system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention. A system shown in FIG. 58 includes aportable terminal (MU) 560 which is an optical payment unit and a RFterminal 570 installed in a subway gate. The RF terminal 570 includes anoptical transceiver 571 for transmitting and receiving optical paymentinformation, a controller 572 for controlling operation of levying asubway fare, and a recorder 573 for recording levying details. Thedetailed structure of the RF terminal 570 is shown in FIG. 59. The FIG.58 system also includes a collection server 562 for collecting levyingdetails of the recorder 573 disposed in each subway station andtransferring the same to a card company server 564 in a lump. Here, thecollection server 562 is a central server for linking each subwaystation and centrally controlling the same. Also, since a fare differsfor each subway section, information with respect to a boarding subwaystation is input into the portable terminal 560 using a bidirectionaloptical transceiver 571, so that an accurate fare can be levied at aget-off subway station.

[0257] The RF terminals 570 provided in the subway station entrance andexit are connected to a subway station central server via a terminalcomputer communications module 576. In order to ride on a subway train,a passenger transmits optical card information to the opticaltransceiver 571 in the RF terminal 570, using the card informationincorporated portable terminal 560. Then, the optical transceiver 571transmits the received card information to the controller 572. Thecontroller 572 confirms whether the received card information is validdata of a predetermined protocol. If it is valid data, the controller572 transmits the departure station information and time information tothe portable terminal 560 via the optical transceiver 571. The portableterminal 560 receives the departure station information transmitted fromthe optical transceiver 571 and temporarily stores the same therein. Thecontroller 572 controls the entrance and exit opening system to allowthe passenger to pass through the entrance and exit opening system andto ride on the subway train. When the passenger rides on the subwaytrain and arrives at a desired destination, he or she uses the portableterminal 560 in which the departure station information has been stored,and proceeds the get-off procedure. Here, the departure stationinformation together with the card information is transmitted to theoptical transceiver 571 in the RF terminal 570 provided in the entranceand exit opening system of the arrival station. The optical transceiver571 receives the departure station information together with the cardinformation transmitted from the portable terminal 560 and transmits thesame to the controller 572. The controller 572 checks whether thereceived card information is valid data of a predetermined protocol. Ifit is valid data, the controller 572 calculates a fare from thedeparture station to the arrival station and displays a calculatedamount and/or a used cumulative amount on a display 578 via a userinterface module 577. Also, the controller 572 records the levyingdetails such as the card information, transaction date, fare, andcumulative amount on the recorder 573.

[0258] The central server 562 being the collection server collects thetransaction details recorded in the recorder 573 in the RF terminal 570installed in each subway station, at every interval of period. Thecentral server 562 checks if the collected transaction details matchesthe transaction details recorded in the recorder 573. Then, if bothmatch, the central server 562 transmits the transaction details to acard company 564 and requests for an approval of settlement of the usedamount and then clears the recorded contents from the recorder 573.

[0259] Of course, the passenger can use a subway ticket which is anotherpayment ticket or uses a traffic card such as a plastic card or an ICcard to have it contact the RF card communications module 574 to settlethe payment.

[0260] Hereinbelow, a case that a phone number is used as an ID for abatch processing settlement system in a vending machine, a bus or asubway will be described.

[0261]FIG. 60 is a conceptual view showing an optical payment batchprocessing settlement system using a phone number as an ID.

[0262] A user possessing a portable terminal 890 incorporated with anoptical payment function selects a corresponding mobile communicationscompany as a credit transaction authority for taking a transactionaction requiring a batch processing settlement. The user selects themobile communications company 898 as a credit transaction authority inan optical menu of the portable terminal 890, and then transmits a phonenumber and an authentication key registered in the portable terminal 890in the form of an infrared ray by means of manipulation of buttons. Anoptical receiver 892 installed in a vending machine, a bus, or a subwaystation receives a phone number and an authentication key from theportable terminal 890. The optical receiver 892 confirms the receivedauthentication key by using a decoding key and confirms whether thereceived phone number is an inherent number input at the time ofparticipating in the communications network using the confirmedauthentication key. If it is confirmed that the phone number is aninherent number, the optical receiver 892 approves the transactionaction and then keeps the transaction details in custody with aself-authentication program. The optical receiver 892 transmits thetransaction amount to the portable terminal 890 in the form of aninfrared ray. The portable terminal 890 cumulates the transmittedtransaction amount and keeps the cumulated result in a memory which canbe controlled by the mobile communications company 898. The portableterminal 890 can continue to take a credit transaction action within alimit determined by the mobile communications company 898. Meanwhile, anoperator transmits the stored transaction details to a collection center896. The collection center 896 totalizes the collected sales data andconverts the totalized sales data into purchase data for the mobilecommunications company 898, to then transfer the converted result to themobile communications company 898. The mobile communications company 898settles the purchase data and pays for the credit sales debts to thecollection center 896 according to a payment interval of period. If thedebts are paid for from the mobile communications company 898, thecollection center 896 pays for the credit sales debts to each affiliatedshop to be settled. The mobile communications company 898 charges forthe credit sales debts collected for a predetermined period in additionto a communications fee and sends a bill to the user at a date which isdetermined to be settled by the user. Since the user pays for the billedfees, such an optical payment settlement credit purchase is completed byusing a phone number as an ID.

[0263] Meanwhile, since the number of persons who use the Internetincreases sharply, a commercial use of the Internet, that is, anelectronic commerce becomes quickly and widely spread. The electroniccommerce uses a settlement system requiring a user to input cardinformation such as a user name, card number, secret number, and a validdate on a browser provided by a cyber shopping mall. The presentinvention is applied to the electronic commerce so that a settlementprocessing can be performed without inputting card information eachtime.

[0264]FIG. 61 is a configuration view showing an electronic commercesystem adopting an optical payment settlement system according to thepresent invention. A system shown in FIG. 61 includes a mobile unit 581used as an optical payment unit having an optical transmitter foroptically transferring preset personal credit information, an opticalreceiver 582 connected to an Internet connection terminal computer (PC)583 for performing an electronic commerce transaction, for receivingoptically transmitted personal credit information and inputting thereceived credit information to the PC 583, and a payment gateway 585connected to a shopping mall 584, for performing a settlementprocessing. The optical receiver 582 receives only payment informationtransmitted in the form of an infrared ray (Ir) and transmits thereceived payment information to an electronic commerce settlementprogram. Of course, Ir-transmitted payment information and magnetic cardinformation of a swapping method can be selectively received, by usingan optical receiver including a card reader. Also, if an optical relaybase unit is connected to the PC 583 and an optical relay in which anoptical receiver is attached is used, Ir-transmitted payment informationand magnetic card information of a swapping method which is transmittedvia a mobile optical relay can be selectively received. Here, thepayment gateway 585 is an optical payment (Zoop™) dedicated gateway, andcan be operated by the shopping mall 584 or a separate service company.A VAN company 586 and a card company 587 are connected to the opticalpayment dedicated gateway 585. In the FIG. 61 system having theabove-described structure, an optical payment operation in theelectronic commerce will be described specifically via FIG. 62.

[0265] A customer gains access to the shopping mall 584 by the computer583 connected to the Internet and searches products. Then, the customerdetermines purchase items and makes up an order sheet. Then, thecustomer selects a settlement method for settlement of a debt on ascreen and clicks the selected settlement method (step 591). Theshopping mall system 584 checks if the customer's selected settlementmethod is an optical payment settlement method (step 592). If thecustomer determines the payment by one of other settlement method otherthan the optical payment, a settlement procedure using the determinedsettlement method (step 593). There are an electronic money, an MS cardand so on as the settlement methods other than the optical payment. If apayment is an optical payment settlement, a customer uses a portableunit 581 which is an optical payment unit and transmits the cardinformation to the optical transmitter 582 connected to the computer 583(step 594). Since the optical payment unit has been described above, thedetailed description thereof will be omitted. The customer inputs asecret number which is known only by him or her and presses a settlementbutton, and then transmits card information necessary for settlement tothe optical receiver 582 attached to the Internet connection computer583, by using an optical communications method, in particular, aninfrared communications method. The optical receiver 582 received thetransmitted card information and converts it into the form which can beprocessed in the computer 583 so as to be input to the computer 583. Thecomputer 583 transmits the input card information to the shopping mallsystem 584. The shopping mall system 584 transmits the received cardinformation to the optical payment dedicated gateway 585. The opticalpayment dedicated gateway 585 having received the card informationperforms decoding and authenticating of the received card information(step 595). The optical payment dedicated gateway 585 checks whether theoptical payment settlement is authenticated from an authenticationserver (step 596). If it has been authenticated, the optical paymentdedicated gateway 585 requests for an approval to the VAN company 586 ordirectly to the card company 587. If it has not been authenticated, asettlement processing is performed by other payment methods (step 593).The optical payment dedicated gateway 585 checks an authenticationresult (step 597) and transmits the check result to the transactiongenerated shopping mall 584. When the shopping mall 584 is notified fromthe optical payment dedicated gateway 585 that the transaction isnormally approved, it notifies to a customer's browser that thetransaction is normally approved (step 598). Then, products purchased bythe corresponding customer are delivered within a determined deliverydate. If the shopping mall 584 is notified from the optical paymentdedicated gateway 585 that the transaction is not approved due to poorcreditability, an excess of limitation, or an illegal use, it notifiesto the customer's browser that the transaction is not approved (step599).

[0266] As described above, the optical settlement system according tothe present invention can be applied to an electronic payment on thewireless Internet as well as that on the wired Internet.

[0267]FIG. 63 is a configuration view showing a wireless Internet-basedelectronic commerce system adopting an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention. A system shown in FIG. 63 isconfigured in the same structure as that of the FIG. 61 system. However,the FIG. 63 system is configured so that a settlement is performedbetween an optical payment portable unit 601 and a shopping mall system602 via a wireless Internet protocol. An optical payment operation inthe wireless Internet-based electronic commerce of the FIG. 63 systemhaving the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.64.

[0268] In the wireless Internet-based electronic commerce, the customeruses a terminal such as an Internet connectable portable phone or PDA asan optical payment unit. The optical payment unit uses a micro-browsermounted portable phone terminal in which the micro-browser is acommercially available software program such as WAP/UP, ME, etc. Thecustomer gains access to the shopping mall 602 on the wireless Internetvia the wireless Internet connectable terminal 601 which is used as anoptical payment unit. The customer selects goods or services to bepurchased according to a menu provided from the shopping mall 602, andthen selects an optical payment settlement as a settlement method. Thecustomer uses an optical transmitter in the terminal 601 which is anoptical payment unit and optically transmits card informationincorporated in the terminal (step 611). Here, the customer inputs asecret number into the terminal 601. If the secret number is correct,the customer can access the card information. If not, the customercannot use the incorporated card information. When the customer inputsthe secret number into the terminal 601 and then presses a transmitbutton on a menu, the card information incorporated in the terminal 601is encoded and then transmitted to the shopping mall server 602 which iscurrently connected on the wireless Internet. The shopping mall server602 confirms the transmitted card information. If the transmitted cardinformation is normally received, the shopping mall server 602 sends areception message to the customer's terminal, while if not, the formersends a re-transmission requesting message to the customer's terminal601 and displays the re-transmission requesting message on thecustomer's terminal screen to thereby make the customer check if thecard information has been normally transmitted (step 612). If the cardinformation has not been transmitted, the customer manipulates theterminal 601 again and re-transmits the card information (step 613). Ifit is checked that the card information has been normally received instep 611, the shopping mall server 602 transmits the encoded cardinformation to the optical payment dedicated gateway 604 (step 614).Here, the optical payment dedicated gateway 604 is a separately existingpayment gateway server in order to decode only data which has beenstored in the terminal and then encoded and transmitted, in addition topayment information processed in a general key-in method. The reason whythe optical payment dedicated gateway 604 is provided in comparison withthe general payment gateway 603 is because the optically transmitteddata is encoded and thus cannot be decoded in the general paymentgateway server 603. The optical payment dedicated gateway 604 receivesthe settlement information transmitted via the shopping mall system 602and decodes it into an original prior-to-being-encoded state. Then, theoptical payment dedicated gateway 604 requests for an approval to a bank606 or a card company 608 which is a settlement authority through anauthentication procedure (step 615). Here, a dedicated network 605 or607 of X.25 is connected between the optical payment dedicated gateway604 and the corresponding settlement authority 606 or 608. The opticalpayment dedicated gateway server 604 checks if an approval has been donefrom the corresponding settlement authority such as the bank 606 or cardcompany 608 (step 616). If an approval has been done, the opticalpayment dedicated gateway server 604 notifies the shopping mall 602 thatthe payment has been completed and the customer that the settlement hasbeen completed (step 617). If an approval has not been done in theresult of checking of step 616, the optical payment dedicated gatewayserver 604 notifies the customer via the shopping mall 602 that thesettlement has been rejected, to thereby allow the customer to use othersettlement methods (step 618).

[0269]FIG. 65 is an operational flowchart view in the case that the FIG.61 electronic commerce system is applied in a general store. A systemadopting the FIG. 65 method transmits optical payment information inreal-time via an electronic commerce optical receiver 582 connected to aPC 583 in a general store connected to the Internet, for processingvarious settlement approval items.

[0270] A customer determines a purchase item and selects a settlementmethod in a store counter (step 621). The system checks if thecustomer's selected settlement method is an optical payment settlement(step 622). If the customer's settlement method is an optical paymentsettlement, the customer uses a portable terminal 581 which is anoptical payment unit, and transmits card information to the electroniccommerce optical receiver 582 attached to a PC 583 in the store (step623). The card information includes a secret number and a settlementcommand. If the customer's settlement method is not an optical paymentsettlement, the customer performs a settlement processing in cash orwith other payment methods such as a magnetic card (step 624). The PC583 plays a role of a Web-POS and encodes the received card informationand transmits it to the optical payment dedicated gateway 585 in orderto request for an approval. The optical payment dedicated gateway 585decodes the card information received via the Internet into an originalprior-to-being-encoded state, and proceeds to an authenticationprocedure (step 625). The optical payment dedicated gateway 585 checksif an optical payment settlement is authenticated from an authenticationserver (step 626). If the optical payment settlement is authenticated,the optical payment dedicated gateway 585 requests for an approval to aVAN company 586 or directly to a card company 587. If not, a settlementprocessing is performed with other payment methods (step 624). Theoptical payment dedicated gateway 585 checks if an approval has beendone (step 627). If an approval has been normally done, the opticalpayment dedicated gateway 585 notifies the browser of the Web-POS 583connected via the Internet that an approval has been normally done (step628). If a normal approval has been notified, the shopping mall handsover to the customer the products purchased by the customer. If anapproval has not been done due to poor creditability, an excess oflimitation and an illegal use, the optical payment dedicated gateway 585notifies the browser of the Web-POS 583 that the transaction has notbeen approved (step 629).

[0271] An authentication unit is needed in order to prevent an illegaluse of payment information in an optical payment commerce. As shown inFIG. 66, an optical payment unit, an affiliated store and a card companyin the present invention includes an authentication unit, respectively.Also, when all these authentication units are combined with one another,the card information can be used as significant payment information. Auser 631 purchases services or goods in an affiliated store and inputshis or her own controlled password into an optical payment unit in orderto pay for the purchased services or goods, which can prevent othersfrom accessing. An optical payment receiver installed in an affiliatedstore 632 analyzes the received signal and ascertains a contracted indextable and communicates with each other to thereby control an access toservices. The affiliated store 632 adds an affiliated store ID assignedto a credit card inquiry machine 633 installed in the affiliated storeto credit information to then transmit the affiliated store ID addedcredit information to a card company 634, and has an approval requestright assigned to the affiliated store 632. The card company 634compares the card number transmitted via the credit card inquiry machine633 and the VAN network and the authentication number transmittedtogether with the card number to thereby judge if the card is a cardissued by a card company 634 and thus have an approval right. An opticalpayment dedicated gateway 635 existing between the card company 634 andthe affiliated store 632 includes a self-authentication table to have anauthentication right with respect to an optical payment settlement.

[0272] The secret number for authentication of a user in a portableterminal which is an optical payment unit can be exposed to others.Thus, the secret number is combined with user's bio-identificationinformation such as the iris, face, footprint, voice, etc. In thisembodiment, a user authentication using a secret number and facerecognition data will be described below.

[0273]FIGS. 67A and 67B are views for explaining a process ofregistering user facial data in a portable terminal initially,respectively. A portable terminal 641 shown in FIG. 67A is attached witha camera 642 for photographing a user. The portable terminal 641contains a program for extracting facial data from a user imagephotographed and obtained in the camera 642 and storing the extractedfacial data, and then comparing the stored facial data with facial dataof a person who uses the portable terminal.

[0274] In FIG. 67B, a user manipulates a menu on a portable terminal 641such as a portable phone and a PDA and sets the portable terminal 641into a secret number input mode. In the secret number input mode, theuser inputs a secret number for accessing his or her own paymentinformation into the portable terminal 641 (step 641). After inputting asecret number, the user re-inputs the secret number into the portableterminal 641 (step 641). If the twice sequentially input secret numbersmatch each other, the portable terminal 641 proceeds to a facial datainput mode automatically. In the facial data input mode, the userapproaches his or her own face to the camera 642 attached to theportable terminal 641 and selects a confirmation button (step 643). Ifthe confirmation button is selected, the portable terminal 641 takes apicture of the user's face via the camera 642 and then displays thephotographed face on the screen together with a completion indication(step 644). If the photograph is not satisfied, the user presses acancel button and performs the facial data input accessing his or herown payment information into the portable terminal 641 (step 641). Afterinputting a secret number, the user re-inputs the secret number into theportable terminal 641 (step 641). If the twice sequentially input secretnumbers match each other, the portable terminal 641 proceeds to a facialdata input mode automatically. In the facial data input mode, the userapproaches his or her own face to the camera 642 attached to theportable terminal 641 and selects a confirmation button (step 643). Ifthe confirmation button is selected, the portable terminal 641 takes apicture of the user's face via the camera 642 and then displays thephotographed face on the screen together with a completion indication(step 644). If the photograph is not satisfied, the user presses acancel button and performs the facial data input procedure again.

[0275] A user authentication will be described in the case of theportable terminal 641 in which facial data has been input through theabove procedure.

[0276]FIG. 68A is a view for explaining a user authentication process inthe facial data contained portable terminal 641. FIG. 68B is a flowchartview for explaining a user authentication process in the facial datacontained portable terminal.

[0277] A user selects a settlement mode in the portable terminal 641 andthen presses a confirmation button in order to access his or her ownpayment information (step 651). If the portable terminal 641 is selectedat a settlement mode, it displays a message for requesting the user toinput a secret number on a screen as shown in FIG. 68A. Here, the userinputs a secret number. Then, the portable terminal 641 displays amessage for requesting the user to approach his or her face to thecamera 642 on the screen for facial recognition. Then, the userapproaches his or her face to the camera 642 and then presses aconfirmation button. If the confirmation button is pressed, the portableterminal 641 drives the camera 642 and the driving program, tophotograph the user's face (step 652). When the user's face iscompletely photographed, the photographed facial data is analyzed andcompared with the initially registered user's facial data (step 653).Here, if a probability error in comparison is accurate within the rangeof about 30%, the photographed facial data is processed in the same asthe previously registered facial data. The reason is because dataextracted from the facial shape has some errors according to the age orcondition of the user. Thus, a case that a user is not recognized as theperson in question according to the condition at that time although heor she is the person in question is avoided. If an in-personauthentication is completed through the above procedure, an access tothe payment information incorporated in the portable terminal 641 isaccomplished. In the case that an error is above 30%, the program isperformed again from the initial menu selection step. Then, in the casethat the facial data does not match more than three times, the paymentinformation is automatically stopped and a report of the loss of thecorresponding portable terminal is submitted.

[0278] Next, additional services such as change in card information,termination/stoppage/loss of the card, and transaction suspension forthe optical payment settlement system according to the present inventionwill be described.

[0279]FIG. 69 shows a card information change service system provided inan optical payment settlement system according to the present invention.FIG. 70 is a flowchart view in the FIG. 69 card information changeservice system provided in an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention.

[0280] If an alteration cause of card information such as an address, asecret number, a contact address, and a bill recipient place occurs, acard member 661 requests for an alteration of the card information byphone, via wired or wireless Internet, or by paying a direct visit of acorresponding card company 663 or a relayer 662 (step 671). The relayer662 having received the card information alteration application, demandson data for ascertaining the applicant is the card member 661 in person,and ascertains the contents of the card information to be changed andthe card company of the card to be changed. The relayer 662 applies foran alteration of the card information by proxy of the card member 661via the dedicated line with respect to the card company 663 in question(step 672). Here, the relayer 662 transmits authentication datanecessary for identifying the person in question such as part of asecret number, a residence number and final sales approval details, tothe card company 663, together with the card information alterationapplication. The card company 663 verifies whether the receivedapplication is an application applied by the person in question, withthe in-person authentication data transmitted from the relayer 662. Inthe case that the card member 661 applies for an application ofalteration of the card information to a corresponding card company, thecard company 663 receives the in-person authentication data from thecard member 661. If it has been checked that the applicant is a personin charge, the card company 663 compares the card information in amember computerized sheet registered in the card company server 663 withthe card information to be changed (step 673). In the result ofcomparison of step 673, if both of the card information coincide witheach other, the card company 663 notifies the relayer 662 that there isno change matter in the card information. The relayer 662 transmits thenotified contents of the card company 663 to the card member 661 in theform of a wireless data format. In the result of comparison of step 673,if both of the card information do not coincide with each other, thecard company 663 changes the card information contents on the membercomputer recording sheet upon request of the member (step 674). When thecard information change is completed, the card company 663 notifies therelayer 662 that the card information has been completely changed. Therelayer 662 transmits a message of “card information change completion”to a card substitute portable phone of a corresponding card memberaccording to the notification of the card company (step 675). The cardsubstitute portable phone carried by the card member displays the cardinformation change completion message on its screen and informs the userthat the card information has been changed (step 676). Thus, when theother person tries to change the card information illegally, the cardholder can ascertain the illegal card information change.

[0281] Meanwhile, in the case that the card holder is registered as aperson of poor credit due to theft or loss of the card, or the card usemoney in arrears, the card transaction needs to be suspended. In thiscase, there are two existing methods for checking the card transactionsuspension. One method is to manage black list (B/L) information withrespect to cards which need to be suspended for their transactions fromthe card company server in the case that the cards need to be suspendedfor their transactions and check whether the card is suspended if a cardtransaction approval request is received from an affiliated store. Theother method is to download black list (B/L) information in package froma card company server by wire and store the downloaded B/L informationin a card reader installed in a subway ticket gate or a bus ticket gateduring use of subway or bus, and compare the input card information withthe stored B/L information. In the case of these methods, it takes longtime to check a B/L and burdens the subway or bus card reader to storeB/L data. Thus, in the case of a card which needs to suspendtransactions, the card company transmits transaction suspensioninformation to a portable phone which is used as an optical payment unitin the form of a wireless data format using a mobile communicationsmethod and registers the transaction suspension information in theportable phone, to thereby prevent the portable phone from being used asthe optical payment unit. This process is shown in FIG. 71.

[0282]FIG. 71 shows a card dealing suspension system according to thepresent invention. The system shown in FIG. 71 includes a card member681, a card company 682, a relayer 683 and a mobile communicationsnetwork 684. The card member 681 purchases a portable wirelesscommunications terminal such as a portable phone and a PDA for financialsettlement and participates as a card member in a card company. The cardcompany 682 includes companies each issuing a direct payment card, aadvance payment card, a credit card and an electronic money. The relayer683 is a company which provides card information and other financialinformation to the card member 681 upon agreement of the card member 681in which the relayer 683 contracts with the card company 682 and otherfinancial authorities. The mobile communications network 684 is anetwork for transmitting data to particular wired or wirelesscommunications terminals designated by the relayer 683 via a dedicatedline from the relayer 683 by the contract between the mobilecommunications company and the relayer 683. In this system, operationsof registering B/L data for registering transaction suspension of cardshaving a transaction suspension causes in a terminal carried by the cardmember and suspending the transactions will be described in detail withreference to FIGS. 72 and 73.

[0283]FIG. 72 is a flowchart view for explaining a card B/L registrationmethod in the FIG. 71 system. FIG. 73 is a flowchart view for explaininga card dealing suspension method in the FIG. 71 system.

[0284] If a customer applies withdrawal or stoppage of a card (step 691)or is registered as a person of poor credit called a B/L person in theresult of a credit estimation in the card company 682 (step 692), it isjudged whether the card is a card incorporated in the portable phone orPDA (step 693). If the card is a card incorporated in the portableterminal in the result of judgement of step 693, the card company 682ascertains a phone number of the portable terminal having anincorporated card (step 694), the card suspension information istransmitted to the relayer 683 via the dedicated line (step 695). Therelayer 683 calls a corresponding portable terminal 681 by theascertained phone number via the mobile communications network 684 andtransmits the transaction suspension information (step 696). Here, thetransaction suspension information is transmitted in the form of awireless data format. The corresponding portable terminal 681 receivesthe transaction suspension information and registers the B/L data in amemory incorporated therein or card information stored in the detachableIC card (step 697). The portable terminal 681 having received thetransaction suspension information sends a response signal to the cardcompany 682 and enables the card company 682 to judge whether thetransaction suspension information is normally input. The card company682 judges whether the transaction suspension information is input inthe portable terminal 681 normally (step 698), and if the transactionsuspension information is not input normally, the card company 682repeatedly performs the steps starting from step 696 so that the cardtransaction suspension information is re-transmitted. Meanwhile, if thecard is not a portable card in the result of judgement of step 693, thecard company 682 processes in the same manner as the existing card (step698). That is, the card transaction suspension information is registeredin the card company approval server.

[0285] The method for suspending the transactions during a cardsubstitute use of the portable terminal 681 registered as the B/L datawill be described in detail with reference to FIG. 73.

[0286] When the card substitute portable terminal 681 holder presses acredit card use button of the portable terminal 681 and transmits thecredit information in order to pay for cost of the service (step 701), acontroller in the portable terminal 681 ascertains whether the card isregistered as B/L card (step 702). If the card is registered as the B/Ldata, the controller in the portable terminal 681 rejects thetransaction by display of an error message on a display screen in theportable terminal 681 (step 704) and completes the program. If the cardis not registered as B/L data in the result of ascertainment of step702, the portable terminal 681 transmits the incorporated creditinformation to the card information reception portion (step 703) andcompletes the program.

[0287] With the above transaction suspension method, in a petty cashtransaction performed without approval of transaction, that is, traffictransactions in facilities such as paid roads, buses, subways, andparking rots, vending machines, and a small-money electronic commerce, aB/L check is performed in the card substitute portable terminal duringuse of the credit card with the portable terminal. Accordingly, theprocessing speed of the card substitute portable terminal is faster thanthat of comparing the B/L data downloaded from the card company serverin package by wire in a card reader one by one, and the system runningcost of the former is cheaper than that of the latter. informationrepresenting that the card has been lost, to the card company 713 exceptfor the cards which are not lost by the card member among the extractedcard numbers, together with the in-person authentication information viathe dedicated line (step 723). The card company 713 ascertains thein-person authentication information among the received information tothereby ascertain that the card holder is a true card possessor. In thiscase, the card company 713 records the transaction suspension due to theloss of the card in a computer DB 714, and transmits the transmits therecorded information to the relayer 712 (step 724). The relayer 712transmits the transaction suspension information received from the cardcompany 713 to a wireless terminal 711 designated by the card member inthe form of a wireless data format (step 725). The wireless terminal 711displays the transaction suspension completion due to loss on a displayscreen and makes the card member see that the loss of card is declaredand processes (step 726). If the displayed contents are not correct, thecard member appeals the card company 713 or the relayer 712 (step 727).

[0288] As such, if the card transaction suspension is performed due tothe card loss, the payment information transmission of the lost portableterminal is stopped. Also, the communications function of the portableterminal can be stopped through the mobile communications company, tothereby make the portable terminal disabled.

[0289] By the way, the illegal use of the card having occurred beforedeclaring the card loss or theft is not easily accepted by the cardcompany although an appeal is filed by the card member, which causes adispute. In order to prevent such a dispute in advance, a method fortransferring transaction details by use of various payment informationincorporated in the portable terminal to a user portable terminal isproposed in the present invention.

[0290]FIG. 76 is a configuration view showing a use details wirelesstransfer system provided in an optical payment settlement systemaccording to the present invention. FIG. 77 is a flowchart view forexplaining an operation in the FIG. 76 use details wireless transfersystem.

[0291] A customer purchases goods or services in an affiliated store(step 741), and payment information for optical settlement istransmitted. Then, a card inquiry machine 732 sends an approval requestto a card company 733. The card company 733 checks remainder limitationand transaction suspension of the approval requested card. If there isno abnormality, the approval signal is transmitted to the card inquirymachine 732 (step 742). Also, the card company 733 ascertains whether amember of an approval requested card number is a member who applies forreceiving approval details wirelessly (step 743). If it is ascertainedthat the member of the card number is a member who does not apply forreceiving the approval details, the program is completed. If it isascertained that the member of the card number is a member who appliesfor receiving the approval details, and the approval is a firstlygenerated approval after application of the approval, it is ascertainedwhether the card member is a possessor of a wireless data transceiver731 such as a portable phone, a PDA, and a beeper through which the cardmember wishes to receive the approval details via the dedicated lineconnected to a mobile communications company 755 (step 744). If it isascertained that the card member is a possessor of the mobile datatransceiver 731, the card company 733 transmits the approved detailssuch as a sales generated time, sales amount, affiliated store name, andpart of the card number to a relayer 734 via the dedicated line (step745). The relayer 734 uses a communications network 736 of the mobilecommunications company 735 and transmits the approved detailstransmitted from the card company 733 by e-mail or by a wirelesstransmission method (step 746). The wireless data transceiver 731designated to receive the approved details by the card member receivesand records the approved details by e-mail, wireless data transmissionmethod, or WAP (step 747), displays the approved details on a screen toreceive a confirmation from the card member (step 748). If approveddetails are transmitted to his or her wireless data transceiver 731,although he or she does not use the card, the card member appeals thatsuch sales are illegal sales to the relayer 734 or the card company 733and requests for taking a proper action (step 749). If such an appeal israised, the relayer 734 transmits the appeal information to the cardcompany 733, immediately. The card company 733 starts to investigate thereceived appeal (step 750).

[0292] In addition, the present invention presents a system for leasingan optical payment unit and settling all purchase-related amount. Thisis more effective if the rental service of the optical payment unit isapplied to a business place for an attendance as in a theme park.

[0293]FIG. 78 is a block diagram showing a settlement system using arental type optical payment unit according to the present invention. Asystem shown in FIG. 78 includes an optical transmitter 750, a counterterminal 754 for registering rental and return of the opticaltransmitter 750, a calculation terminal 760 for inputting a transactionamount in which an optical receiver 762 is attached, and a main computer752 for ascertaining an inherent number input from the calculationterminal 760 and the transaction amount and performing settlement of thetransaction amount. Here, the optical transmitter 750 employs an IC chipin which an inherent number is registered therein, and converts theinherent number registered in the IC chip into an optical signal to thentransmit the optical signal. Also, the optical transmitter 750 isfabricated into a portable size so that a user carries it conveniently.The calculation terminal 760 is located in a calculation stand in arestaurant or stall which sells food or goods, and is attached with theoptical receiver 762. The counter terminal 754 is installed in anentrance and exit gate in a game resort, etc., or in a predeterminedplace in the game resort, and is attached with an optical receiver 756and a card reader 758 for ascertaining credit card information. Anoperation of the settlement system using a rental type optical paymentunit of FIG. 77 having the above configuration will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 79 to 82.

[0294] If a user wishes to use an optical settlement system of thepresent invention when the user enters a game resort such as a themepark or in a zoo, or after entrance there, the user goes to a rentalcounter located in the entrance and exit gate or park, for leasing theoptical transmitter 750, and requests for rental of the opticaltransmitter 750 (step 761). The user can select his or her desiredsettlement method (step 762), in which there are a prepaid type fordepositing a predetermined amount of money and a credit card type usinga credit card as a settlement method. If a user selects a prepaidsettlement method, the user deposits an amount of money to be consumedand a guarantee money of the optical transmitter 750 (step 763). A clerkin the counter selects one among various optical transmitters 750 whichare kept in custody and then transmits an inherent number registered inthe IC chip incorporated in the optical transmitter 750 toward theoptical receiver 756 attached to the counter terminal 754. The opticalreceiver 756 receives the inherent number transmitted from the opticaltransmitter 750 and outputs the same to the counter terminal 754 (step764). The clerk key-inputs an amount of the user deposited andconsumable money into the inherent number of the optical transmitter 750which is input into the counter terminal 764 (step 765). Then, thecorresponding optical transmitter 750 becomes an enabling state whichcan be used by the user and the key input value is input to the maincomputer 752. The clerk ascertains the usable state via the counterterminal 754 and then rents the optical transmitter 750 to the user(step 766).

[0295] If a user selects a credit card settlement method in step 762,the carried credit card is presented to a clerk in the counter (step767). The clerk puts the credit card into a card reader 758 attached tothe counter terminal 754 and registers the credit card information ofthe user into the counter terminal 754 (step 768). Then, an inherentnumber of an optical transmitter 750 to be rent to the user is inputinto the counter terminal 754 in the same manner as that of the prepaidsettlement method (step 769), and matches the inherent number with thecredit card information (step 770). Then, the corresponding opticaltransmitter 750 becomes a usable state and the state value is input tothe main computer 752. Then, the clerk ascertains the input results andrents the optical transmitter 750 to the user (step 766).

[0296]FIG. 80 is a flowchart view for explaining a settlement process inthe FIG. 78 system.

[0297] When a user rents an optical transmitter 750 and then wishes togo to a restaurant or purchases goods, a clerk in the restaurant orstore key-inputs a transaction amount into the calculation terminal 760(step 771). Then, the user transmits the inherent number of the carriedoptical transmitter 750 toward the optical receiver 762 attached to thecalculation terminal 760, so that the inherent number is input into thecalculation terminal 760 (step 772). the main computer 752 receives thetransaction amount of money and the inherent number of the opticaltransmitter 750 from the calculation terminal 760 and checks asettlement method (step 773). If the settlement method is a prepaidtype, the main computer 752 subtracts the transaction amount of moneyfrom the usable amount of money and settles the transaction amount ofmoney (step 774). The main computer 752 outputs a usable remainderamount of money to the calculation terminal 760 and the calculationterminal 760 displays the usable remainder amount of money andsimultaneously outputs a receipt (step 775). If the settlement method isa credit card type, the main computer 752 accumulates the transactionamount of money and settles the accumulated amount of money (step 776).The main computer 752 outputs a current total of transaction amount ofmoney to the calculation terminal 760, and the calculation terminaldisplays the total transaction amount of money and simultaneouslyoutputs a receipt (step 777).

[0298]FIG. 81 is a flowchart view for explaining a return process of anoptical transmitter 750. When a user who rents an optical transmitter750 leaves a theme park, the rent optical transmitter 750 is returned. aclerk in the rental and return counter receives the optical transmitter750 from the user and then transmits the inherent number of the opticaltransmitter 750 to the optical receiver 756 attached to the counterterminal 754 to input a return state (step 781). Then, the settlementmethod is selected (step 782). In the case of a prepaid settlementmethod, the main computer 752 ascertains an amount of money remaining inthe corresponding inherent number in response to the input return signaland then outputs the ascertained result to the counter terminal 754(step 783). The clerk refunds the ascertained amount of remainder moneyand the guarantee money of the optical transmitter 750 to the user andthe transmits a return completion signal to the main computer 752 (step784). The main computer 752 aligns the return database in response tothe return completion signal (step 785). Meanwhile, in the case of thecredit card type, the return process is much simpler than that of theprepaid type. The main computer 752 outputs a total amount oftransaction money of the corresponding inherent number to the counterterminal 754 in response to the input return signal (step 786), and thecounter terminal 754 automatically outputs a card bill with respect tothe total amount of transaction money (step 787). The return state ofthe optical transmitter 750 is indicated on the card bill. Here, themain computer 752 aligns the return database immediately (step 785).

[0299]FIG. 82 is a flowchart view for explaining a non-return process ofan optical transmitter 750. When all attendance leave and apredetermined time elapses, the main computer 752 compares the rentaldatabase with the return database with respect to the rental opticaltransmitters 750 and ascertains a list of the non-return opticaltransmitters 750 (step 791). Then, a settlement method is checked (step792). In the case of a prepaid type, the main computer 752 ascertains anamount of remainder money of the inherent number of the non-returnoptical transmitter 750 (step 793), and registers the correspondinginherent number in a prepaid type loss database (step 794). Then, whenthe non-return optical transmitter 750 is returned (step 795), theamount of remainder money registered in the prepaid loss database isreturned (step 796), and the return database is aligned (step 797). Inthe case of the credit card type, the main computer 752 ascertains thefinal amount of the transaction money of the non-return inherent number(step 798), and adds the amount of money of the optical transmitter 750to the ascertained amount of transaction money and aligns the creditcard bill (step 799). Then, the main computer 752 registers thecorresponding inherent number in the credit card type loss database(step 800). If the lost optical transmitter 750 is returned (step 801),only the amount of charged money of the optical transmitter 750 isrefund (step 802), and the return database is aligned (step 797). Inorder to reduce the non-return of the optical transmitter 750, a methodcan be used that a predetermined amount of penalty money should be paidin the case of the non-return according to a contract with the rentalusers.

[0300] The above-described rental concept can be extended to an overseasuse as well as a domestic use. Although such a system for embodying anoptical payment settlement method is not described specifically, it canbe understood by one skilled in the art based on the present invention.

[0301] Meanwhile, although the above-described embodiments have beendescribed only with respect to a financial transaction system, thepresent invention can be applied to a system requiring an entrance andexit security management such as in a company or governmental office. Aconventional entrance and exit security system chiefly uses anon-contact type RF-ID card. The conventional non-contact RF-ID cardrelies on imported components, and the size of the maximum data whichcan be stored is limited to 96 bits. The conventional non-contact RF-IDcard requires a separate device for issuing cards. Also, in order toenter and exit various offices controlling entrance and exit of persons,the persons should additionally carry the cards as many as the number ofthe offices to enter and exit. Thus, the present invention inputspersonal identification information including a name, an employeenumber, a in-service department into a personal portable terminal suchas a portable phone and a PDA containing an optical transceiver. Thepersonal identification information contained portable terminal is usedas a personal identification unit, which substitutes a card for anentrance and exit security system.

[0302]FIG. 83 is a configuration view showing an entrance/exit securitysystem using an optical transceiver according to the present invention.A system shown in FIG. 83 includes an optical transceiver 800 which is apersonal identification unit and an entrance/exit optical receiver 810attached to the entrance/exit gate, for receiving an inherent IDoptically transmitted from the optical transceiver 800. The inherent IDis personal identification information. A controller 820 is connected tothe optical receiver 810 and adds necessary information of theentrance/exit gate identification information to the received inherentID to thereby transmit the added result to a central controller 822. Thecentral controller 822 includes a controlling DB where inherent IDs withrespect to the admitted visitors are registered. An operation ofcontrolling the entrance/exit in the FIG. 83 system having the aboveconfiguration, will be described through FIGS. 84 and 85.

[0303] A user's entrance/exit information should be input to the centralcontroller 822, in order to enter and exit an entrance/exit gate. Inthis process, the optical transceiver 800 is directed toward the opticalreceiver 824 connected to the central controller 822 and then inherentID input in the optical transceiver 800 is optically transmitted. Theoptical receiver 824 receives the inherent ID transmitted from theoptical transceiver 800 and transmits the same to the central controller822. The central controller 822 registers the transmitted inherent ID ina DB.

[0304] At the state where the inherent ID has been registered, a visitormanipulates a menu on the portable terminal 800 which is a personalidentification unit and selects an entrance/exit mode (step 811). Afterselecting the entrance/exit mode, the visitor manipulates a keypad onthe portable terminal 800 and inputs a secret number in response to arequest for an input of the secret number (step 812). The portableterminal 800 checks if the input secret number is correct (step 813). Ifthe secret number is correct, the portable terminal 800 is convertedinto an entrance/exit information transfer mode. If the visitor pressesa transfer button at the entrance/exit information transfer mode, theentrance/exit information is optically transmitted via the opticaltransceiver of the portable terminal 800. If the optically transmittedentrance/exit information is information registered in the DB of thecentral controller 822, the entrance/exit gate is open and admitted forentrance (step 814). If the secret number is not correct or theentrance/exit information does not coincide with the pre-menu on theportable terminal 800 which is a personal identification unit andselects an entrance/exit mode (step 811). After selecting theentrance/exit mode, the visitor manipulates a keypad on the portableterminal 800 and inputs a secret number in response to a request for aninput of the secret number (step 812). If the secret number is input,the portable terminal 800 is converted into an entrance/exit informationtransfer mode. If the visitor presses a transfer button at theentrance/exit information transfer mode (step 813), the entrance/exitinformation is optically transmitted via the optical transceiver of theportable terminal 800. If the optically transmitted entrance/exitinformation is information registered in the DB of the centralcontroller 822, the entrance/exit gate is open and admitted for entrance(step 814). If the secret number is not correct or the entrance/exitinformation does not coincide with the pre-registered information, thesteps starting from step 811 will be resumed.

[0305] Meanwhile, if the entrance/exit information is received (step821), the optical receiver 810 attached to the entrance/exit gatedecodes the received information and then transmits the decoded resultto the controller 820 (step 822). The controller 820 adds necessaryinformation including entrance/exit identification information to thereceived information so that it can be identified whether the receivedinformation is information transmitted from which entrance/exit gate,and transmits the added result to the central controller 822 (step 823).The central controller 822 searches the DB and judges whether thereceived information is an entrance/exit admitted personal informationregistered in the DB (step 824). If the user is an unregistered person,the central controller 822 takes no action in response to the inputinformation and thus the entrance/exit gate is not open. If the user isa registered person who is admitted for entrance/exit, the centralcontroller 822 transmits an entrance/exit gate opening signal to thecontroller 820 corresponding to the entrance/exit gate to which theentrance/exit information is transmitted (step 825). The controller 820having received the entrance/exit gate opening signal opens theentrance/exit gate by an operation (step 826).

[0306] A function of storing or transmitting an actual monetary value isadded in a portable terminal incorporated with an optical transceiver,to thereby allow the portable terminal to give and take the monetaryvalue with a cash input and output machine (ATM) or a portable terminalof the other person in real-time, Also, when a user pays for transactionmoney in a general store, it is preferable that a monetary value can betransmitted from the in-person portable terminal to a portable terminalof a seller or a card reader attached with an optical receiver, inreal-time.

[0307]FIG. 86 is a configuration view showing a real-time valuetransferable electronic money system according to the present invention.a user of a portable terminal 830A attached with an optical transceiverreceives a predetermined amount of money from a cashier machine 840Aattached with an optical receiver 842 in the form of an electronicmoney. The user transmits the electronic money received in the portableterminal 830A to the other cashier machine 840B or a portable terminal830B of the other person or a card reader 860 connected with an opticalreceiver 862 in a general store.

[0308] First of all, a case that the electronic money is withdrawn fromthe cashier machine 840A will be described.

[0309]FIG. 87 shows configuration of display screens when an electronicmoney is withdrawn from a cash withdrawal machine 840A such as an ATM.FIG. 88 is a flowchart view for explaining an operation when anelectronic money is withdrawn from a cash withdrawal machine 840A suchas an ATM.

[0310] A user selects a cashier machine 840A on a menu screen (a) ofFIG. 87 of the in-person portable terminal (step 851). Then, on thescreen of the portable terminal 830A is displayed a message for asking asecret number as shown in the screen (b) of FIG. 87. If the user inputsthe secret number, the portable terminal 830A checks if the input secretnumber is a correct secret number (step 852). If the input secret numberis correct, the portable terminal 830A displays a message for selectingthe and displays the in-process operation. The ATM 840A pays for acorresponding amount of money in cash after an approval processing, andmakes the user withdraw the cash (step 857). If the user selects theelectronic money in step 853, the ATM 840A asks the user of how muchmoney the user wishes to receive. The user inputs a desired amount ofmoney in the ATM 840A manually (step 858), and stands by. The ATM 840Adisplays a in-process message on the screen and then displays atransmission preparation completion message on the screen. Then, theuser presses an “execution” button among selection options of the moneyreception displayed on the menu of the portable terminal 830A shown inthe screen (d) of FIG. 87. The portable terminal 830A checks if themoney transfer execution button is pressed (step 859). When the“execution” button is pressed, the money as much as the input amount ofmoney input from the ATM 840 a is transmitted to the portable terminal830A. Here, on the screen of the portable terminal 830A is displayed anin-reception, a reception completion and a transmitted m\amount of moneyin turn. At the same time, on the screen of the ATM 840A id displayed atransmission completion message. The user ascertains the received amountof money after the monetary value is transmitted from the ATM 840A (step860). Here, if the received money is correct, the transfer of themonetary value is completed. If the received money is not correct, thetransfer thereof is resumed from the initial step.

[0311] In the following, an electronic money exchange between portableterminals will be described.

[0312]FIG. 89 shows configuration of display screens when an electronicmoney is exchanged between portable terminals. FIG. 90 is a flowchartview for explaining an operation when an electronic money is exchangedbetween portable terminals.

[0313] A provider and a receiver respectively select a cash transfer anda cash reception at a menu screen on the portable terminal 830A or 830B,as shown in the screen (a) in FIG. 89 (step 891A or 891B). Then, theportable terminal 830A or 830B displays the screen so that onetransferable object can be selected among the portable terminal of azoop phone and the ATM machine as shown in the screen (b) of FIG. 89.Both the provider and the receiver select the transferable object usingthe portable terminal (step 892A or 892B). If the transferable object isselected, the corresponding portable terminal 830A or 830B displays thescreen for asking the secret number as shown in the screen (c) of FIG.89. If both the provider and the receiver input the respective secretnumbers, the portable terminal 830A or 830B checks if the input secretnumber is correct (step 893A or 893B). If the input secret number iscorrect, the provider inputs an amount of money to be transmitted (step894A). Here, the receiver stands by to receive the money (step 894B),and the portable terminal 830A displays the reception stand-by on thescreen as shown in the screen (d) of FIG. 89. If the remittance amountof money is input, the provider portable terminal 830A displays thescreen so that the money transfer execution is selected. If the moneytransfer execution is selected, the provider portable terminal 830Atransmits the electronic money to the receiver portable terminal 830Bwhich stands by for reception at the same time (step 895A). Here, thereceiver portable terminal 830B receives the transmitted electronicmoney (step 895B). Each of the provider and receiver portable terminals830A and 830B display the screen indicating the transmission andreception states as shown in the screen (e) of FIG. 89 duringtransmission and reception. The provider and receiver portable terminals830A and 830B check the transmission and reception completion (steps896A and 896B), respectively. If the transmission and reception iscompleted, the transmitted and received money is displayed andascertains the amount of money (steps 897A and 897B). In this case, theremainder money is displayed together. At this state, a confirmationbutton is pressed to terminate an electronic money exchange.

[0314] In the following, an electronic money payment using a portableterminal in a general commerce will be described.

[0315]FIG. 91 shows configuration of display screens in the case ofpayment of an electronic money using a portable terminal. FIG. 92 is aflowchart view for explaining an operation in the case of payment of anelectronic money using a portable terminal.

[0316] When a user who possesses a portable terminal 830A incorporatedan electronic money purchases goods or services in a general store, andthen intends to pay for the transaction money with the electronic money,the user selects a cash transfer on a menu as shown in the screen (a) ofFIG. 91 (step 901). If the cash transfer is selected, the portableterminal 830A displays the screen asking a secret number as shown in thescreen (b) of FIG. 91. When the user inputs a secret number, theportable terminal 830A checks if the secret number is correct (step902). If the secret number is correct, the portable terminal 830Adisplays the screen asking a transfer object as shown in the screen (c)of FIG. 91 and checks the selected transfer object (step 903). Here, theuser selects a POS as the transfer object. If the transfer object is aPOS, the portable terminal 830A displays asking a transfer moneytogether with an amount of current money as shown in the screen (d) ofFIG. 91. The user inputs the transfer money in the portable terminal830A (step 904). If the transfer money is input, the portable terminal830A displays the screen asking whether a money transfer is executed asshown in the screen (e) of FIG. 91 and checks if the money transfer isexecuted (step 905). If the user presses an execution button, theportable terminal 830A transmits an amount of electronic money toward anoptical receiver 862 connected to a credit card inquiry machine 860 in acorresponding business place and displays the in-transfer on the screenas sown in the screen (f) of FIG. 91. If the transmission is completed,the portable terminal 830A displays the transmitted money as sown in thescreen (f) of FIG. 91 and ascertains the transmitted money (step 906).If the user selects the cash confirmation, in order to ascertain thetransmitted money, an amount of remaining money after payment isdisplayed on the screen.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0317] As described above, an optical payment transceiver and an opticalsettlement system using the same according to the present inventionincorporates credit information in a portable terminal attached with anoptical transceiver and transmits the credit information in the form ofan infrared ray. Accordingly, a simple and safe transaction system canbe embodied. In the case of a large amount of credit transactionrequiring a secret number, a receiver receives a secret number and usesthe same. Accordingly, there is no risk of leaking personal paymentinformation. Also, since an optical receiver is attached to a creditinformation inquiry machine and credit information transmitted in theform of an infrared ray is transmitted to the inquiry machine, thecredit card need not be presented to a clerk when the credit cardtransaction can be done. Accordingly, the illegal use of the credit cardinformation can be prevented fundamentally. Also, a settlement can bedone at a location distant from a credit card inquiry machine via amovable relayer and a device. In the case of a vending machine whichcannot settle by a credit card in real-time, payment information isstored and collected at a predetermined point in time so as to beprocessed in package. Accordingly, it is possible to construct a credittransaction environment even in a field where a card has not been used.Thus, the present invention minimizes inconveniences where users carrycards or cash, and can prevent risks due to loss, theft and damage ofthe cards. Further, the present invention is applied to most fieldswhere financial transactions are performed as in a general commerce, adrive-thru ordering system, a restaurant, a gas station, a departmentstore, an electronic commerce, a vending machine, a subway or bus farelevying system, a toll gate fee collection system, a fee payment ofkiosks, and an electronic money, and provides conveniences to users tothereby expedite active transactions. Also, the present invention can beapplied to an entrance/exit security system requiring personalidentification as well as the financial transaction. In addition, asecret number and bio-identification data are combined when an in-personis identified in order to access payment information incorporated in aportable terminal. Thus, an access with respect to personal paymentinformation by an unauthorized person is prevented fundamentally, tothereby reinforce a security. Further, in a card transaction suspensionfield, a card reader downloads a blacklist from a card company inpackage and compares input credit information with the stored blacklist.If the input card information is blacklisted, an optical paymentoperation is not performed in a portable terminal. Accordingly, thepresent invention is faster in view of a blacklist processing speed, andcheaper in view of a system running cost. Moreover, a cost for issuingplastic cards continuously can be reduced.

[0318] The present invention is not limited in the above-describedembodiments. It is apparent to one who is skilled in the art that thereare many variations and modifications without departing off the spiritof the present invention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A card issuance method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a cardissuance application; (b) examining an issuance qualification withrespect to the received card issuance application; (c) encrypting cardinformation if the issuance qualification is met; (d) transferring theencrypted card information to an applicant designating portable terminalso as to be stored therein; and (e) if the encrypted card informationhas been completely stored, checking a normal operation state andapproving the card information stored portable terminal to be used as asubstitute card.
 2. The card issuance method of claim 1, wherein saidstep (a) comprises of the step of receiving a card issuance applicationby recommending a purchaser of the portable terminal to subscribe as acard member.
 3. The card issuance method of claim 1, wherein said step(a) comprises the step of receiving a card issuance application throughan Internet website or a telemarketing.
 4. The card issuance method ofclaim 1, wherein said step (b) comprises the step of identifying whethera possessor of the applicant designating portable terminal is the sameperson as a card issuance applicant.
 5. The card issuance method ofclaim 1, wherein said step (c) comprises the steps of: (c1) forming aset by producing a card number and assigning an authentication number tothe card number; (c2) compressing the authenticated assigned card numberaccording to a predetermined compression algorithm; and (c3) assigning acard identification (ID) to the compressed card number.
 6. The cardissuance method of claim 1, wherein said step (d) comprises the step ofdownloading card information via the wireless Internet.
 7. The cardissuance method of claim 1, wherein said step (d) comprises the step ofdirectly inputting card information via the keypad of the portableterminal.
 8. The card issuance method of claim 1, wherein said step (d)comprises the step of inputting card information into a SIM card whichcan be inserted into the portable terminal.
 9. The card issuance methodof claim 1, wherein said step (d) comprises the step of transmittingcard information in a wireless data format.
 10. The card issuance methodof claim 1, wherein said step (d) comprises the step of transferringcard information by cable.
 11. The card issuance method of claim 1,further comprising the step of (e) identifying whether a cardinformation change applicant is a true card possessor and changing thecard information, if a card information change application is received.12. The card issuance method of claim 1, wherein said step (e) comprisesthe step of displaying the changed contents as a message on the portableterminal and allowing the card information change applicant to check thechanged contents.
 13. The card issuance method of claim 1, furthercomprising the step of (f) registering a blacklist into a correspondingportable terminal if a transaction suspension cause of the issued cardoccurs, and suspending the card transactions.
 14. The card issuancemethod of claim 13, wherein said step (f) comprises the step ofdisplaying suspension of transaction due to a loss of card on adesignated wireless data receiver if the transaction suspension cause isdue to the loss of card, and informing a card owner that a declarationof loss has been processed.
 15. A card issuance system comprising: acard company server receiving a card issuance application, examining anissuance qualification encrypting card information if the issuancequalification is met, and transferring the encrypted card information toan applicant designating portable terminal; and said portable terminalreceiving and storing the transmitted card information, and displayingthe received card information on a screen in order to inform the cardissuance applicant that the card issuance has been made.
 16. The cardissuance system of claim 15, further comprising a mobile communicationscompany server for authenticating whether the card issuance applicant isthe same as a portable terminal owner.
 17. The card issuance system ofclaim 16, wherein said card company server is connected with said mobilecommunications company server by a dedicated line.
 18. The card issuancesystem of claim 15, wherein a card issuance terminal in said cardcompany server is connected with said portable terminal by cable, tothereby transferring card information.
 19. The card issuance system ofclaim 18, wherein an optical transceiver is attached in said cardissuance terminal to optically transmitting card information, and anoptical transceiver is attached in said portable terminal to receive theoptically transmitted card information, so that the received cardinformation can be input.
 20. The card issuance system of claim 15,wherein said portable terminal stores the input card information in amemory region which is not accessible by a general user.
 21. The cardissuance system of claim 20, wherein said portable terminal notifies thecard company server that the card information is not normally input, ifthe card information is not normally input to the portable terminal. 22.The card issuance system of claim 21, wherein said portable terminal isa wireless communications terminal to which an optical transceiver isattached.
 23. The card issuance system of claim 21, wherein said cardinformation comprises the name of and the credit card number of the cardpossessed by each card owner and said portable terminal is used as asubstitute credit card.
 24. The card issuance system of claim 21,wherein said card information is personal identification information andsaid portable terminal is used as a substitute entrance/exit card.
 25. Acard issuance system comprising: a card company server receiving a cardissuance application, examining an issuance qualification encryptingcard information if the issuance qualification is met, and encryptingthe card information and transferring the encrypted card information toa relayer; said relayer for encrypting the card information transmittedfrom said card company server again and transferring the encrypted cardinformation to an applicant designating portable terminal via acommunications network; and a portable terminal receiving and storingthe transmitted card information, and displaying the received cardinformation on a screen in order to inform the card issuance applicantthat the card issuance has been made.
 26. The card issuance system ofclaim 25, further comprising a mobile communications company server forauthenticating whether the card issuance applicant is the same as aportable terminal owner.
 27. The card issuance system of claim 26,wherein said card company server is connected with said mobilecommunications company server by a dedicated line.
 28. The card issuancesystem of claim 25, wherein said relayer performs the card informationto the portable terminal as a short message service in a wireless dataformat.
 29. The card issuance system of claim 28, wherein said relayercomprises: a compressor for receiving the card number assigned with anauthentication number from said card company server and compressing thecard number according to a predetermined compression algorithm; and acard identification (ID) assigner for assigning a card identification(ID) to the compressed card number.
 30. The card issuance system ofclaim 25, wherein said portable terminal decodes the input cardinformation into a prior-to-being-encrypted state and storing the same.31. The card issuance system of claim 30, wherein said portable terminalstores the input card information in a memory region which is notaccessible by a general user, and uses the stored card information assubstitute for a card.
 32. The card issuance system of claim 31, whereinsaid portable terminal notifies the relayer that the card information isnot normally input, if the card information is not normally input to theportable terminal.
 33. The card issuance system of claim 32, whereinsaid portable terminal is a wireless communications terminal to which anoptical transceiver is attached.
 34. The card issuance system of claim29, wherein said portable terminal comprises: a storage index unit forreceiving the card ID assigned card information and storing the card IDas an index; a card information memory for storing the card ID and theactual card information corresponding to the card ID in a pair; and ascreen display memory for storing the card ID and characters and logodata for displaying actual card kinds corresponding to the card ID on ascreen.
 35. The card issuance system of claim 34, wherein said storageindex unit comprises a index memory storing a total length of storedindexes, IDs of the card information selected by a user among variouskinds of card information, and index information representing positionswhere the card information is actually stored.
 36. The card issuancesystem of claim 33, wherein said card information comprises the name ofand the credit card number of the card possessed by each card owner andsaid portable terminal is used as a substitute credit card.
 37. The cardissuance system of claim 33, wherein said card information is personalidentification information and said portable terminal is used as asubstitute entrance/exit card.
 38. The card issuance system of claim 25,wherein said card company server ascertains the phone number of theportable terminal corresponding to the card if a transaction suspensioncause of the issued card occurs, and transmitting card transactionssuspension information to said relayer.
 39. The card issuance system ofclaim 38, wherein said relayer calls the portable terminal of the phonenumber ascertained by the card company server and registers cardtransaction suspension as a blacklist in the portable terminal.
 40. Thecard issuance system of claim 39, wherein said relayer transmits thetransaction suspension information in a wireless data format.
 41. Thecard issuance system of claim 40, wherein if the card is used after thecard has been registered as a blacklist, said portable terminal displaysan error message and rejects the card transaction.
 42. The card issuancesystem of claim 25, wherein if a card information change application isreceived, said card company server identifies whether a card informationchange applicant is a true card possessor and changing the cardinformation of the portable terminal through the relayer.
 43. An opticalpayment transmitter for use in an optical transceiver apparatus forpayment of expenses, the optical payment transmitter comprising: amemory storing user card information therein; an optical transceiver foroptically transmitting and receiving card information; a button forcommanding an optical payment operation; a controller for opticallytransmitting card information according to user button manipulation sothat a settlement is completed; and a display displaying an opticalpayment operation state, in which the optical payment transmitter isfabricated as a compact portable device.
 44. The optical paymenttransmitter of claim 43, wherein said portable device is applied to aportable phone, a PDA, a key-chain, a clock and an electronic notebook,and manufactured in order to store card information and transmit thestored card information as an optical signal.
 45. The optical paymenttransmitter of claim 43, wherein said optical transceiver transmits andreceives the card information in the form of infrared rays.
 46. Theoptical payment transmitter of claim 45, wherein said opticaltransceiver comprising: an infrared light receiving/emitting portion forconverting card information received in the form of an infrared ray intoan electrical signal, and converting the electrical signal into aninfrared signal, to then transmit the converted result; a decoder and anencoder for converting an IrDA standard electrical signal into a UARTstandard signal and converting a UART standard electrical signal into anIrDA standard signal, respectively; and a UART portion for converting aUART standard serial signal output from said decoder into a parallelsignal in units of a predetermined bit to then output the convertedresult to a controller, and converting the parallel signal of the cardinformation transmitted via the controller into a serial signal to thenoutput the converted result to said encoder.
 47. The optical paymenttransmitter of claim 43, wherein said button comprises a petty cashsettlement button for transmitting card information without inputting asecret number, and a big money settlement button for transmitting both asecret number and card information.
 48. The optical payment transmitterof claim 47, further comprising a tone recognition module forrecognizing the secret number from a tone signal generated incorrespondence to the secret number input via a keypad on the portablephone.
 49. The optical payment transmitter of claim 43, wherein asignature tag is attached to an appropriate position of the opticalpayment transmitter so that the signature of the card owner can beidentified.
 50. A battery pack for use in a portable terminal, thebattery pack comprising an optical transmitter for storing user cardinformation and transmitting an optical signal with respect to the cardinformation.
 51. The battery pack of claim 50, wherein said opticaltransmitter comprises: an optical transmitter circuit installed in thebattery, for generating the optical signal; a light emitting element foremitting the optical signal from the optical transmitter circuitexternally; and a settlement switch for approving and settling theoptical payment by the emitted optical signal.
 52. The battery pack ofclaim 51, wherein said optical transmitter circuit is included in theportable terminal combined with the battery.
 53. The battery pack ofclaim 51, wherein said optical transmitter circuit comprises: a powersupply circuit for supplying power to the optical transmitter; a memorystoring the user card information; an optical transmitter unit emittingthe card information as an optical signal; and a controller forcontrolling the information of the memory to be transmitted to theoptical transmitter unit and controlling the optical transmitter circuitentirely.
 54. An optical payment transmitter for use in a portableterminal including a data transmission and reception function, theoptical payment transmitter comprising: an optical transmission andreception plug device connected to the portable terminal, for opticallytransmitting and receiving card information; and said portable terminalstoring the user card information, for transmitting stored paymentinformation to the optical transmission and reception plug device if theoptical transmission and reception plug device is connected to anexternal communications port.
 55. The optical payment transmitter ofclaim 54, wherein said optical transmission and reception plug devicecomprises: a case; a circuit provided in the case; an opticaltransceiver for optically transmitting and receiving the cardinformation transmitted from said portable terminal; a connection cableformed on the side of the circuit; a plug connected to the connectioncable, and combined with an external communications port in the portableterminal; and an optical transmission and reception window provided onthe side of the case, and forming an entrance/exit unit for an opticalsignal transmitted from and received at said optical transceiver. 56.The optical payment transmitter of claim 55, wherein said opticaltransmission and reception window is formed to face the rear surface ofthe portable terminal.
 57. An optical payment receiver for use in acredit card inquiry machine for settling card information transmittedfrom a portable terminal, the optical payment receiver comprising: anoptical receiver for receiving the card information as an optical signaland settling the received card information; a card reader; a adapter forreceiving the card information; and a magnetic interface card connectedto said adapter by cable at the state where a credit card is insertedinto said card reader, and converting the card information into the samemagnetic signal as the form swapping in the card reader, to then betransmitted to the body of the credit card inquiry machine; wherein cardinformation is received by either said optical receiver or said adaptor.58. The optical payment receiver of claim 57, wherein said opticalreceiver is incorporated in said credit card inquiry machine.
 59. Theoptical payment receiver of claim 57, wherein said optical receiver isconnected to said credit card inquiry machine by cable.
 60. The opticalpayment receiver of claim 59, wherein said optical receiver receives thecard information in the form of an infrared signal, converting the sameinto a signal having a form which can be recognized in said credit cardinquiry machine, and transferring the converted result to the creditcard inquiry machine by cable.
 61. The optical payment receiver of claim57, wherein said adapter comprises: an infrared reception portion and aninfrared emission portion for receiving and transmitting cardinformation in the form of an infrared ray, respectively; an infrareddecoder connected to the infrared reception portion, for decoding thereceived card information into a UART standard signal; an infraredencoder connected to the infrared emission portion, for encoding thereceived card information into an infrared signal; a UART portion forconverting the decoded UART standard signal into a parallel signal of apredetermined bit unit, and converting the parallel signal of the UARTstandard form into a serial form; a controller for applying analternating signal in order to alter an electrical signal with respectto the card information into an electromagnetic signal according to aconversion algorithm prepared in a transmission mode; and an I/Fconverter for adjusting an impedance voltage according to thealternating signal applied from the controller and applying the adjustedimpedance voltage into the magnetic interface card.
 62. The opticalpayment receiver of claim 57, wherein said magnetic interface card isfabricated in the form that coils are wound at a predetermined positionof an iron core, for generating change of magnetic flux by thealternating signal applied to the coils from the I/F converter.
 63. Theoptical payment receiver of claim 62, wherein said adapter urthercomprises a card reader for directly reading a magnetic card at thestate that the magnetic interface card is inserted into the card reader.64. An optical payment system for paying for fees using an opticalsignal, the optical payment system comprising: a mobile optical relayerfor receiving a card information contained optical signal from a userterminal, temporarily storing corresponding card information, andoutputting the stored card information one time; and an optical relaybase unit for receiving the card information from the mobile opticalrelayer and transmitting the received card information to a credit cardinquiry machine.
 65. The optical payment system of claim 64, whereinsaid mobile optical relayer comprises: an infrared reception portion andan infrared emission portion for receiving and transmitting cardinformation in the form of an infrared ray, respectively; a memorystoring the received card information; a button for commanding datatransmission; a transmission port connected to said optical relayer baseunit by a connector, for transmitting the card information stored in thememory to the optical relayer base unit; and a controller forcontrolling the card information to be transmitted to the opticalrelayer base unit via one of the infrared emission portion and thetransmission port according to the connection state with the opticalrelayer base unit if the button is manipulated.
 66. The optical paymentsystem of claim 65, wherein said controller deletes the transmitted cardinformation from the memory.
 67. The optical payment system of claim 65,wherein said optical relayer base unit comprises: a reception portconnected to the mobile optical relayer by a connector, for receivingthe transmitted card information; an infrared reception portion forreceiving the card information transmitted from the mobile opticalrelayer, in the form of an infrared ray; and a controller forcontrolling the received card information to be transmitted to thecredit card inquiry machine.
 68. The optical payment system of claim 67,wherein said optical relayer base unit is connected to the credit cardinquiry machine by cable.
 69. The optical payment system of claim 65,wherein said mobile optical relayer is fabricated in a clip type. 70.The optical payment system of claim 65, wherein said optical relayerbase unit is fabricated in an adapter type.
 71. A method for enhancing asecurity in an optical payment settlement system using a portableterminal, the security enhancement method comprising the steps of: (a)encrypting card information by using a user's secret number; (b)inputting the encrypted card information into the portable terminaltogether with a settlement secret number; (c) inputting the secretnumber into the portable terminal during performing transactions andselecting a settlement mode; (d) transmitting both the card informationand the secret number input into the portable terminal in the form of anoptical signal, at the settlement mode; (e) receiving the cardinformation and the secret number in the form of the optical signal anddecoding the card information using the received secret number; and (f)performing a settlement operation with the decoded card information. 72.The security enhancement method of claim 71, wherein in said step (a)only part of the card information is encrypted.
 73. The securityenhancement method of claim 71, further comprising the step of (g)displaying the card information including a card number and a valid dateon the screen of the portable terminal, according to an operation of adecoding program if a card information ascertainment menu is selected atthe settlement mode of said step (d).
 74. An optical settlement systemfor use in a commerce system, the optical settlement system comprising:an optical payment transmitter for optically transmitting cardinformation; an optical payment receiver for optically receiving thetransmitted card information; a credit card inquiry machine fortransferring the received card information and requesting a transactionapproval; and a settlement authority server for notifying an approvalresult with respect to the received approval request to the credit cardinquiry machine.
 75. The optical settlement system of claim 74, whereinsaid optical payment transmitter is a portable terminal to which anoptical transceiver is attached.
 76. The optical settlement system ofclaim 74, wherein said optical payment receiver is connected to thecredit card inquiry machine by cable.
 77. The optical settlement systemof claim 76, wherein said optical payment receiver is an adapter typeoptical receiver in which a card reader is installed.
 78. The opticalsettlement system of claim 74, wherein said optical payment receiver isincorporated in the credit card inquiry machine.
 79. The opticalsettlement system of claim 74, wherein said optical payment transmittertransmits information including the name and card number of a customertogether with a signal indicating a start of transactions when apredetermined key button is manipulated by the customer, in the form ofan infrared signal.
 80. The optical settlement system of claim 79,wherein said optical payment receiver receives the transmitted cardinformation and outputs a response signal with respect to the receivedcard information.
 81. The optical settlement system of claim 80, whereinsaid optical payment transmitter receives the response signal,ascertains whether the card information is normally received anddisplays a message indicating whether the card information is normallyreceived on the screen.
 82. The optical settlement system of claim 79,wherein said optical payment receiver receives the transmitted cardinformation in the form of an infrared ray and converting the infraredcard information into a signal which can be recognized in the creditcard inquiry machine to then be transmitted to the credit card inquirymachine.
 83. The optical settlement system of claim 82, wherein saidcredit card inquiry machine transmits the received card information tothe settlement authority server to receive an approval from thesettlement authority server to complete a transaction.
 84. The opticalsettlement system of claim 75, wherein said optical payment transmitterstores a phone number assigned to a corresponding portable terminalmatching the card information, and transmits the phone number togetherwith the stored card information in the form of an infrared ray, when akey button is manipulated in order to perform an optical paymentsettlement.
 85. The optical settlement system of claim 84, wherein saidoptical payment receiver extracts the card information and the phonenumber from the received infrared signal and transmits the extractedcard information and phone number to the credit card inquiry machine.86. The optical settlement system of claim 85, wherein said credit cardinquiry machine keeps the received phone number in custody, transmitsthe card information to the settlement authority server and prints outpurchase details and the stored phone number on a receipt when thetransaction details are approved, to thereby represent a transactionsubject with the phone number.
 87. The optical settlement system ofclaim 74, wherein said optical payment transmitter transmits index dataindicating a storage position of the card information if an opticalpayment settlement is selected by a user, extracts an encryption key anda memory access command from an encryption key signal transmitted fromthe optical payment receiver, reads the stored card informationaccording to the memory access command and transmits the cardinformation encrypted with the encryption key.
 88. The opticalsettlement system of claim 87, wherein said optical payment receiverascertains whether the received index data is valid, produces anencryption key to then be transmitted to the optical payment transmittertogether with the memory access command, decodes the received cardinformation with the stored encryption key and restores the decodedresult into the original card information according to a predeterminedcompression table.
 89. The optical settlement system of claim 74,wherein said settlement authority server transmits the approved detailsincluding a sales generated time, sales amount, affiliated store name,and part of the card number to a wireless data receiver, if the approvalrequested card is a card of a member who requests for reception of theapproval details wirelessly.
 90. The optical settlement system of claim89, wherein said settlement authority server transmits the approveddetails via at least one of wireless transmission methods among ane-mail, a short message system (SMS), and a WAP.
 91. The opticalsettlement system of claim 90, wherein said settlement authority serverascertains a possessor of the designated wireless data receiver is acard member if the approval request is a first request after theapproval details wireless transmission has been applied, and transmitsthe approval details if the possessor of the wireless data receiver is acard member.
 92. A system for settling a toll gate fee comprising: anentrance controller for receiving card information from an approachingvehicle, transmitting entrance approach information and recordingtransaction details in which an optical transceiver is attached to anappropriate position of an access road; an exit controller for receivingthe card information and the entrance approach information from theapproaching vehicle, calculating a toll gate fee and settling thecalculated toll gate fee, and recording transaction details in which anoptical transceiver is attached to an appropriate position of an accessroad; a business office computer for receiving and recording transactiondetails from the entrance controller and exit controller, comparing thetransaction details recorded in the entrance controller and the exitcontroller at every predetermined point in time, and clearing thetransaction details recorded in the entrance controller and the exitcontroller if both transaction details coincide with each other to thentransmit corresponding transaction details to a collection server; aportable terminal for optically transmitting the card information to anoptical transceiver at an entrance access road, receiving entranceapproach information, optically transmitting the card information andthe entrance approach information to an optical transceiver at anentrance access road and receiving transaction details, in order to payfor a toll gate fee; and said collection server for centrallycontrolling each business office computer connected to each other,collecting the received transaction details, comparing the transactiondetails recorded in the business office computer, applying for anapproval of the collected transaction details in package if both thetransaction details coincide with each other, and clearing thetransaction details recorded in the business office computer.
 93. Theoptical settlement system of claim 92, wherein said entrance controllercomprises: a vehicle approach detector for detecting an approachingvehicle; an optical transceiver for checking a signal format of thereceived card information, transmitting the card information to avehicle lane controller if the signal format meets a predeterminedprotocol and optically transmitting the received entrance approachinformation; a ticket issuing machine for issuing a ticket containingentrance approach information; and said vehicle lane controller forascertaining whether a detected vehicle is an optical paymentinformation transmission vehicle, and transmitting the entrance approachinformation to one of the optical transceiver and the ticket issuingmachine.
 94. The optical settlement system of claim 93, wherein saidentrance approach information comprises information on a current tollgate, time information, and vehicle type information.
 95. The opticalsettlement system of claim 92, wherein said exit controller comprises: avehicle detector for detecting a vehicle approach; an opticaltransceiver for checking a signal format of the received cardinformation and the entrance approach information, transmitting theinformation to a vehicle lane controller if the checked signal format isnormal, and recording and transmitting the received toll gate feelevying details; and said vehicle lane controller for ascertainingwhether a detected vehicle is an optical payment informationtransmission vehicle, calculating a toll gate fee of a correspondingpassage interval from the entrance approach information if the vehicleis the optical payment information transmission vehicle, levying the feein connection with the card information and transmitting the levyingdetails to the optical transceiver.
 96. A method for settling atransaction using a portable terminal at a drive-thru ordering store,the optical settlement system comprising the steps of: (a) ascertainingorder items after ordering and transmitting card information stored inthe portable terminal; (b) receiving the card information transmitted inthe form of an optical signal and requesting for a transactionsapproval; (c) moving the vehicle to a product reception stand in thestore during the approval request; and (d) receiving the ordered productand a card receipt if the transaction has been approved and settling theordered product in cash and receiving the product in the result ofchecking.
 97. A system for settling a transaction at a drive-thruordering store, the optical settlement system comprising: an opticalpayment unit storing card information, for transmitting card informationin the form of an optical signal; an ordering details display fordisplaying product order details and amount ordered by a customer, inwhich an optical receiver for receiving the optical signal cardinformation is attached; a means connected to the optical receiver, forrequesting for an approval of transactions of the received cardinformation; and a server for transmitting a transaction approvalrequest and an approval result between the transaction approval requestmeans and a card company server.
 98. The optical settlement system ofclaim 97, wherein said optical payment unit is a portable communicationsterminal such as a portable phone and a PDA or a portable article. 99.The optical settlement system of claim 97, wherein said transactionapproval request means is a POS (Point of Sales) or a card inquirymachine.
 100. A settlement system at a place where a distance between acustomer and a credit card inquiry machine is considerably far, thesettlement system comprising: an optical payment unit for transmittingcard information in the form of an optical signal; a mobile opticalrelayer for displaying a settlement amount of money, receiving andtemporarily storing the transmitted card information, and transmittingthe stored card information to an optical relayer base unit only once;and said optical relayer base unit for receiving the card informationfrom the mobile optical relayer and transmitting the received cardinformation to the credit card inquiry machine or POS.
 101. The opticalsettlement system of claim 100, wherein said mobile optical relayer isfabricated so that a clerk can be easily carried, in which the mobileoptical relayer is connected to the optical relayer base unit by aconnector or by optical communications.
 102. The optical settlementsystem of claim 101, wherein said mobile optical relayer directlytransmits the card information to the credit card inquiry machine or POSvia an optical receiver mounted in the credit card inquiry machine orPOS.
 103. An unmanned automatic vending system comprising: an opticalpayment unit for transmitting card information in the form of an opticalsignal; an automatic vendor including an optical transceiver,distributively disposed at respectively different places, for receivingcard information and recording particulars of products which are sold; acollection device for collecting the details of sales by an operator ofthe automatic vendor in which case the operator goes to a place at whichthe automatic vendor is installed at every period; and a transmissionterminal for transmitting the details of sales collected in thecollection device and requesting for an approval of the transactiondetails in package.
 104. The optical settlement system of claim 103,wherein said automatic vendor comprises: a vendor controller forperforming an entire controlling in order to perform sales of products;and an optical payment receiver for monitoring the vendor controller,recording the sales of products whenever the sales occur, performinginfrared communications with the collection device, and transmitting therecorded details of sales if a collection command is received.
 105. Theoptical settlement system of claim 104, wherein said collection deviceis a PDA.
 106. The optical settlement system of claim 105, wherein saidPDA comprises: an Ir transceiver for performing infrared communications;a memory for recording particular of sales; a controller for controllingthe particular of sales received from the Ir transceiver to be recordedand collected and the collected details of sales to be transmitted inpackage; a display for displaying a collection status under the controlof the controller; and a serial port for transmitting the collecteddetails of sales under the control of the controller.
 107. The opticalsettlement system of claim 104, wherein said collection device is amemory pack.
 108. The optical settlement system of claim 107, whereinsaid memory pack is a non-volatile memory (NV-RAM), which is connectedto the automatic vendor by a connector.
 109. The optical settlementsystem of claim 103, wherein said transmission terminal is a power liemodem connection device.
 110. The optical settlement system of claim109, wherein said automatic vendor comprises: a converter for modulatingthe recorded details of sales; and a power line mixer for loading andthe modulated details of sales on a power line and sending the loadedresult.
 111. The optical settlement system of claim 110, wherein saidpower line modem connection device is connected to a power sourceterminal, for monitoring whether information is loaded in the power lineand transmitting the information by wire or wirelessly if theinformation is recognized.
 112. The optical settlement system of claim103, wherein said transmission terminal comprises: a keypad for settinga settlement mode; an Ir interfacer for performing infraredcommunications with the collection device and receiving the collecteddetails of sales; a serial interfacer connected to the collection deviceby ports, for receiving details of sales; a memory temporarily storingthe details of sales; a transmission/reception portion for transmittingthe details of sales wirelessly; a display displaying the transmissionresult, for monitoring a communications state; and a microprocessor forcontrolling each component and requesting for an approval of thecollected details of sales in package at a settlement mode.
 113. Theoptical settlement system of claim 103, wherein said transmissionterminal is a portable phone connection device.
 114. The opticalsettlement system of claim 113, wherein said portable phone connectiondevice comprises: an I/F portion for monitoring the automatic vendor anddetecting generation of details of sales; a memory for receiving andstoring the details of sales whenever the details of sales are detected;a cable connector for connecting a portable phone external connectionport by cable; a UART portion for detecting whether a portable phone isconnected and notifying the controller that the portable phone isconnected; and said controller for controlling the details of salesstored in the memory to be transmitted by calling a preset connectionnumber via the portable phone if the portable phone is connected, andthe records stored in the memory to be deleted.
 115. The opticalsettlement system of claim 103, wherein said transmission terminal is anInternet connection device.
 116. The optical settlement system of claim115, wherein said Internet connection device comprises: a memoryconnector for receiving details of sales collected in the collectiondevice; an infrared I/F portion for performing infrared communicationswith the collection device and receiving the collected details of sales;a serial port for connecting an Internet connection PC; and a controllerfor controlling the details of sales to be transmitted via the serialport.
 117. The optical settlement system of claim 103, wherein saidtransmission terminal is a dial-up VAN connection device.
 118. Theoptical settlement system of claim 117, wherein said dial-up VANconnection device comprises a modem for loading the collected details ofsales in a phone line and sending the loaded result.
 119. An opticalsettlement system for use in a kiosk, the optical settlement systemcomprising: a portable terminal for transmitting card information in theform of an optical signal; a kiosk including an optical receiver, forreceiving the optical signal, extracting the card information from thereceived optical signal, issuing a user desired document and storingtransaction details; a collection server for collecting the transactiondetails stored in the kiosk and requesting for an approval of thecollected transaction details in package; and a card company server forpaying for an amount of money with respect to the transaction detailstransmitted from the collection server to a designated kiosk operatorand charging a card user for the paid amount of money.
 120. The opticalsettlement system of claim 119, wherein said collection server comparesthe collected transaction details with the transaction details stored inthe kiosk, transmitting the transaction details in package if both thetransaction details coincide with each other, and clearing all thetransaction details stored in the kiosk.
 121. The optical settlementsystem of claim 120, wherein said collection server is a main computerfor integrally managing the kiosk dispersed in several places via acomputer network.
 122. A settlement method for paying for a kiosk fee,the settlement method comprising the steps of: (a) displaying the kindsof services and displaying a fee if the kind of the services isselected; (b) ascertaining whether an optical payment settlement isperformed with respect to the displayed fee and receiving an opticalsignal if the settlement is the optical payment settlement; (c)extracting card information from the received optical signal andascertaining whether the extracted card information is valid; (d)notifying a user to pay for the fee by means of other settlement unit ifthe card information is not valid in the result of ascertainment, andreceiving necessary personal information if the card information isvalid; (e) issuing a corresponding document based on the inputinformation; and (e) storing transaction details including the kinds ofservices, fee, issuance date if the document has been issued.
 123. Anoptical settlement system for automatically levying a bus/taxi fare, theoptical settlement system comprising: a portable terminal fortransmitting card information in the form of an optical signal; a RFterminal including an optical transceiver, for receiving the opticalsignal, extracting card information from the received optical signal,levying fares and recording levied details; and a transmission terminalconnected to the RF terminal, for transmitting and settling the recordedlevied details in package.
 124. The optical settlement system of claim123, wherein said RF terminal comprises: an optical transceiver forreceiving card information in the form of an optical signal from aportable terminal of a customer; a recorder for recording the farelevying details; a controller for ascertaining whether the received cardinformation is valid and levying the fare if the card information isvalid and recording the levying details in the recorder; and a displayfor displaying a levying fare and cumulative amount of money under thecontrol of the controller.
 125. The optical settlement system of claim124, wherein said recorder is a separable pack-type memory.
 126. Asubway fare automatic levying system comprising: a portable terminal fortransmitting card information in the form of an optical signal andreceiving and temporarily storing departure station information; a RFterminal including an optical transceiver, for receiving the opticalsignal and transmitting departure station information, levying a subwayfare in connection with the card information and recording the levyingdetails; and a collection server for collecting the collection detailsrecorded in the RF terminal and transmitting the collected levyingdetails to a card company server in package.
 127. The optical settlementsystem of claim 126, wherein said portable terminal transmits the cardinformation toward the departure station RF terminal in the form of anoptical signal, receives the departure station information from the RFterminal, and transits the departure station information together withthe card information toward the arrival station RF terminal in the formof an optical signal.
 128. The optical settlement system of claim 127,wherein said RF terminal comprises: an optical transceiver for receivingthe card information and the departure station information together withthe card information and transmitting the departure station in the formof an optical signal; a controller for controlling the departure stationinformation including information on a current subway station and timeinformation to be transmitted from the optical transceiver if thereceived card information is valid, and calculating a fare from thereceived departure station information so that the fare is collected; adisplay for displaying the levied amount of money and a cumulativeamount; and a recorder for recording levying details including cardinformation, transaction date, a fare, and a cumulative amount of money.129. The optical settlement system of claim 126, wherein said collectionserver is a central server for centrally controlling each subwaystation, for collecting the levying details recorded in the RF terminalinstalled in each subway station at every pint in time, comparing thecollected levying details with the levying details recorded in the RFterminal, requests for an approval of the levying details in packageonly when both the levying details coincide with each other, andclearing all the recorded contents from the RF terminal.
 130. A packageprocessing settlement system comprising: a portable terminal fortransmitting a registered phone number during performing transactionstogether with an authentication key in the form of an optical signal andaccumulating the received transaction amount of money to keep theaccumulated result in custody; an optical receiver for receiving theoptical signal phone number and the authentication key which aretransmitted from the portable terminal, keeping the approved transactiondetails in custody and transmitting the transaction amount of money tothe portable terminal; a collection center for collecting thetransaction details kept in the optical receiver in custody and payingfor the settled amount of money to a corresponding affiliated store; anda mobile communications company server for paying for the collectedtransaction details to the collection center and adding the settledamount of money in a communications fee bill.
 131. The opticalsettlement system of claim 130, wherein said portable terminal keeps theaccumulated transaction amount of money in a memory which can becontrolled by the mobile communications company server, so that a credittransaction using a phone number is performed within a limit determinedby the mobile communications company.
 132. The optical settlement systemof claim 130, wherein said optical receiver ascertains the receivedauthentication key using a predetermined decoding key and approves thetransaction details by a self-authentication program if the receivedphone number is an inherent number input at the time of participation inthe optical settlement system.
 133. An optical settlement system forpaying for expenses in an electronic commerce, the optical settlementsystem comprising: a portable terminal for transmitting card informationin the form of an optical signal; an optical receiver for receiving theoptically transmitted card information; a computer connected to theoptical receiver, for receiving the card information and performing anelectronic commerce after being connected to the Internet; and a paymentgateway connected to a shopping mall system, for receiving the cardinformation and performing a settlement processing.
 134. The opticalsettlement system of claim 133, wherein said portable terminal connectsthe shopping mall system via wireless Internet communications to therebyperform an electronic commerce.
 135. The optical settlement system ofclaim 133, wherein said payment gateway is an optical payment dedicatedgateway.
 136. The optical settlement system of claim 135, wherein saidoptical payment dedicated gateway performs decoding and authenticatingprocedure with respect to the card information received from theshopping mall system, ascertains whether the optical payment settlementis authenticated, requests for an approval of the optical paymentsettlement to a settlement authority server if the optical paymentsettlement has been authenticated and transmitting the result to theshopping mall system.
 137. The optical settlement system of claim 134,wherein said portable terminal can be accessed to the card informationonly by a user who is authenticated as an in-person.
 138. The opticalsettlement system of claim 137, wherein said portable terminal encryptsthe card information and transmits the encrypted card information. 139.The optical settlement system of claim 138, wherein said payment gatewaydecodes the encrypted card information with the optical paymentdedicated gateway and performs an authentication procedure for asettlement processing.
 140. The optical settlement system of claim 133,wherein said computer is connected to the optical receiver and is anInternet accessible web-POS, and said payment gateway is a POS gatewayconnected to the web-POS, for receiving the card information andperforms a settlement processing.
 141. The optical settlement system ofclaim 138, wherein said in-person authentication is performed bycombining the secret number with the in-person bio-identification. 142.The optical settlement system of claim 141, wherein saidbio-identification uses at least one of iris, face, footprint and voice.143. The optical settlement system of claim 142, wherein said portableterminal in which a camera is attached, extracts facial data from aphotographed user's image and stores the extracted facial data for usein the in-person authentication.
 144. The optical settlement system ofclaim 143, wherein said portable terminal extracts the facial data fromthe photographed image if the input secret number coincides with apredetermined secret number at a settlement mode, and compares theextracted facial data with a pre-registered facial data andauthenticates the user as an in-person with the facial data within anallowable error.
 145. The optical settlement system of claim 144,wherein said portable terminal suspends the card informationautomatically if the facial data does not coincide with thepre-registered facial data more than a predetermined number of times sothat declaration of a loss is accomplished.
 146. An optical paymentsettlement system comprising: an optical transmitter for opticallytransmitting a corresponding inherent number; a counter terminal wherean optical receiver for receiving an inherent number of the opticaltransmitter is attached, for registering a lease and return state withrespect to the received inherent number; a calculation terminal where anoptical receiver for receiving an inherent number of the opticaltransmitter is attached, for inputting a use amount of money into thereceived inherent number; and a main computer for receiving andregistering the lease and return station information of the opticaltransmitter from the counter terminal, ascertaining the inherent numberand the use amount of money input from the calculation terminal, andsettling the amount of money.
 147. The optical settlement system ofclaim 146, wherein said optical transmitter is rented according to amethod selected by a user of an advance payment method in which cash isdeposited in advance, and a credit card method in which an amount oftransactions is settled using a credit card, and is returned at the timeof leaving.
 148. The optical settlement system of claim 147, whereinsaid counter terminal inputs a deposited amount of money into theinherent number received from the optical transmitter if the paymentmethod is the advance payment method.
 149. The optical settlement systemof claim 147, wherein said counter terminal where a card reader forregistering credit card information of the optical transmitter user,inputs the registered credit card information into the inherent number.150. The optical settlement system of claim 147, wherein saidcalculation terminal subtracts a use amount of money from a remainingamount of money to thereby display a current remaining amount if thesettlement method is an advance payment method, and adds the current useamount of money to the remaining amount of money if the settlementmethod is a credit card payment method, to thereby display a total ofthe use amount of money.
 151. The optical settlement system of claim147, wherein said main computer receives the rental state informationfrom the counter terminal if the optical transmitter is rented, andupdates a rental database.
 152. The optical settlement system of claim151, wherein said main computer receives the return state informationfrom the counter terminal if the optical transmitter is returned, andupdates a return database.
 153. The optical settlement system of claim152, wherein said main computer registers the corresponding inherentnumber in a loss database if the optical transmitter is not returned,and updates a return database while refunding a remaining amount ofmoney if the optical transmitter is returned later.
 154. Anentrance/exit security system comprising: a portable terminal storing aninherent ID which is a personal identification information andtransmitting the inherent ID in the form of an optical signal; anentrance/exit controlling optical receiver attached to an entrance/exitgate door, for receiving an inherent ID which is optically transmittedfrom the portable terminal; a controller connected to the opticalreceiver, for adding entrance/exit gate door identification informationto the received inherent ID and transmitting the added result to acentral controlling device; and said central controlling deviceincluding a controlling DB in which inherent ID with respect toentrance/exit admission persons, for allowing a person to enter and exitthe gate door if the inherent ID of the information transmitted from thecontroller is an ID registered in the controlling DB.
 155. A method forwithdrawing a predetermined amount of money from a cash withdrawalmachine (ATM) using a portable terminal, the cash withdrawal methodcomprising the steps of: (a) inputting a secret number into the portableterminal and selecting a withdrawal state; (b) transmitting cardinformation stored in the portable terminal to the ATM as an opticalsignal if the withdrawal state has been selected; and (c) paying for anamount of money to be desired to withdraw in cash in connection with thecard information received from the ATM if the cash withdrawal has beenselected, and transmitting a monetary value as much as the amount ofmoney input to the portable terminal from the ATM, if an electronicmoney has been selected.
 156. The money withdrawal method of claim 155,further comprising the step of (d) exchanging the transmitted electronicmoney with other portable terminal.
 157. The money withdrawal method ofclaim 156, wherein said step (d) comprises the steps of: (d1) selectingcash transmission and reception and object in the portable terminals ofa payer and a receiver and inputting a secret number; (d2) inputting anamount of money to be transmitted into the payer portable terminal ifthe input secret number is normal, and making the receiver portableterminal await to receive information; (d3) selecting an execution of amoney transmission in the payer portable terminal and transmitting andreceiving the electronic money to and from the receiver portableterminal; and (d4) checking if a transmission and reception iscompleted, and displaying the transmitted and received amount of moneyand the remaining amount of money if the transmission and reception hasbeen completed.
 158. An optical settlement system for use in anelectronic money system comprising: a portable terminal for transmittingcard information and a withdrawal amount of money in the form of anoptical signal and receiving an amount of money transmitted from an ATM;and said ATM where an optical transceiver is attached, for receiving thecard information and the withdrawal amount of money, and paying for anamount of money in cash in connection with the received card informationif a user selects a cash withdrawal, and transmitting an amount of moneytoward the portable terminal to transfer money if the user selects anelectronic money.
 159. The optical settlement system of claim 158,wherein said portable terminal exchanges money with other portableterminals and pays for a purchase amount of money with an electronicmoney
 160. The optical settlement system of claim 159, wherein saidportable terminal transmits an electronic money as much as acorresponding amount of money to a portable terminal which is atransmission object if the transmission object portable terminal and anamount of money to be transmitted are input and an execution of moneytransmission is selected, and displays the transmitted amount of moneyand the remaining money.